The Defense Department intends to establish a data base to validate veterans’ alleged claims of decorations. “We are exploring options to stand up a data base of valor awards and medals,” said Pentagon Press Secretary George Little on July 10. “We would obviously hope to go as far back as possible, but we also want there to be integrity in the data,” he added, explaining that the department is still deciding what decorations to include. Little said Erin Conaton, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, is leading this effort, which came about after last month’s Supreme Court ruling that struck down the Stolen Valor Act, a law criminalizing false claims of decoration, on Constitutional free-speech grounds. The court, instead, encouraged DOD to combat the problem by creating a publicly accessible data base that potential employers or concerned citizens could check for themselves. Lawmakers also are proposing a revised Stolen Valor Act that would penalize those who try to benefit from making false claims. (Little-Kirby transcript)
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.