The Air Force has awarded the Bronze Star Medal to TSgt. Andrew LeBeau, an explosive ordnance disposal specialist with Air Force Reserve Command’s 944th Civil Engineer Squadron at Luke AFB, Ariz., for his actions while deployed to Afghanistan. He was an EOD team leader from May 9, 2009, to Nov. 3, 2009. His team’s work with US Special Operations Forces directly led to the capture or kill of key improvised explosive device facilitators and Taliban subcommanders. He also removed an unexploded rocket from the entrance to an Afghanistan girls’ school, following a Taliban attack. (Luke report by TSgt. Susan Stout)
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.