The Air Force is in the process of standing up a new Profession of Arms Center of Excellence at Air Education and Training Command, said Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando on Thursday. The concept behind the project, which is being led by AETC Commander Gen. Robin Rand, is that “every [professional military education] course, every training venue, every discussion” had by Air Force leadership regarding the professional trajectories of airmen is entrenched in the service’s core values of integrity, service, and excellence. Its directive is to study, analyze, and assess command strategic priorities associated with professionalism of the current and incoming airmen. According to the mission statement, all levels of leadership within the Air Force will be responsible for proactively developing airmen “within a professional culture requiring the highest degree of commitment toward institutional standards.”
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.