The Air National Guard celebrated the 40th anniversary of its I.G. Brown Training and Education Center at McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn., on July 30-31. “We’ve had 40 years of building exceptional leaders for the Air Guard,” said Col. Michael Waggett, TEC commander. Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley, Air Guard director, who has been recommended to take command of the National Guard Bureau, attended the anniversary festivities. Over its 40-year history, the center has graduated approximately 44,000 students, 43 of which have become general officers. Today, the center runs 18 professional military education courses on average throughout the year. Earlier this year, Air Force Reserve Command consolidated its officer training with the active Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Ala. There was speculation the Air Guard might consider such a move. (Includes NGB report by MSgt. Mike Smith)
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.