A medical technician journeyman currently assigned to the 354th Medical Operations Squadron at Eielson AFB, Alaska, SrA. Raven S. Taylor is one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. Taylor has often been called to fill in for more senior NCOs. She trained three sections in instrument sterilization procedures, ensuring wartime skills certification. She saved valuable time for nurses by contacting 600 patients about lab results. Taylor also revamped the infection control program, ensuring zero acquired infections over 18,000 patient visits. She oversaw 650 preventive health assessments during a 50 percent manning shortage to sustain the wing’s medical readiness. She assisted with 20 minor surgeries, averting costly referrals. She led the medical screenings process, personally handling 2,000 patients, and achieved overall a 98 percent access rate. She also built minor surgical kits, enabling 60 new procedures and decreasing appointment times by 20 percent. Her home of record is Waycross, Ga. She represents Pacific Air Forces among the OAY.
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.