The Air Force has named the four recipients of the 2009 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award. They are: Lt. Col. Roger A. Sherman, assigned to Peterson AFB, Colo., senior officer category; Capt. Rachel M. Phillips, Sembach Annex, Germany, junior officer category; SMSgt. Jesse D. Schraner, Hurlburt Field, Fla., senior enlisted category; and SSgt. Gino P. Kahaunaele, Pope AFB, N.C., junior enlisted category. These airmen will be presented with the award at a later date. The Sijan award is an annual honor that recognizes airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities while assigned to an organization at the wing level and below. It is named after the first Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor. (For more on Sijan, read The Courage of Lance Sijan from the archives of Air Force Magazine.)
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.