Three colonels deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, flew their 3,000th flying hour in an F-16 during sorties on Dec. 2. They are John Dolan, Michael Fantini, and David Romuald. They join some 150 fellow Viper pilots who have reached that milestone. Dolan is vice commander of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad. Fantini is commander of the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group and Romuald is deputy commander. (Balad photo release)
Air Force senior statesmen explained the reasons they jointly sent a letter to Congress urging restoration of the E-7 Wedgetail and more F-35s to the fiscal 2026 defense budget.