The School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Maxwell AFB, Ala., marked its 20th anniversary during the graduation ceremony for this year’s class, the 20th overall. “By now, hundreds of SAASS graduates, strategic thinkers who developed and refined their skills right here at Maxwell, have applied this education to advise and serve the United States Air Force and our armed forces,” said Air Force Secretary Michael Donley during the commencement address to this year’s 58 graduates. This year’s class of officers included 46 active duty airmen, an Air National Guardsman, an Air Force Reservist, two soldiers, two marines, and six international participants. “Take this education, preparation, and experience and do something great for our Air Force and for our country,” added Donley during the June 15 ceremony. The school has graduated 700 students over those 20 years. (Maxwell report by Christopher Kratzer)
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.