Col. Michael Popovich, the commander of Air Force Reserve Command’s 944th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB, Ariz., has flown 3,000 flying hours in F-16 fighters. He made his milestone flight on May 20 during a training sortie, but he has flown 293 of those hours in combat, covering operations from Desert Storm to present-day action in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I am very fortunate to have flown in many offensive combat operations and to have had so many great opportunities over my Air Force career,” said Popovich. In his civilian career, he flies for American Airlines. (944th FW report by TSgt. Susan Stout)
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.