The Air Force’s developmental special duties initiative is a significant change for the enlisted corps, said CMSgt. Richard Parsons, Air Combat Command’s command chief, on Monday. “Developmental special duties is about who we select to develop our future leaders,” said Parsons during the command chiefs forum at AFA’s 2013 Air and Space Conference in National Harbor, Md. “We’re saying that we are banking our future leaders on you, and we picked you to build our future,” he said. CMSgt. Richard Kaiser, Air Mobility Command’s command chief, emphasized that enlisted personnel are airmen first, their specialty next. “It’ll be an honor for the airmen, at least that should be their reaction,” when nominated to serve in a developmental special duty, he said.
Navy CCA Program’s Shape Coming into Focus
Oct. 17, 2025
In announcing its Navy Collaborative Combat Aircraft contract, General Atomics has provided some clues as to where the service is heading with its version of an armed, autonomous fighter escort. It will likely be quite different from the Air Force version.
