Air Force Magazine
Daily Report for Feb. 14, 2020

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Edited by Amy McCullough with Brian W. Everstine and Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

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DOD Wants to Divert $3.8B from Weapons to Wall
By Brian W. Everstine

The Pentagon is asking Congress to move $3.8 billion, including nearly $1.5
billion in Air Force funding, from weapons programs to the border wall project.
The Feb. 13 reprogramming request would shift $2.2 billion from already
appropriated base budget funds for fiscal 2020 plus another $1.62 billion in
appropriated overseas contingency operations funds. The cuts include funding for
four C-130Js, eight MQ-9s, $180 million for USAF's light attack experiment, and
$156 million in advanced procurement funding for F-35s, among others.

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STRATCOM Boss: B-2 Risks Manageable
By Brian W. Everstine

The Air Force’s decision to cut a major upgrade to the B-2 bomber’s defenses
shows the military is accepting near-term risk to free up funding for future
capabilities, the head of U.S. Strategic Command told lawmakers Feb. 13. The Air
Force’s budget proposal winds down the $3 billion defense management system
upgrade, which included the largest software and hardware changes to the bomber
since the aircraft went through initial engineering development, saving $327.9
million in fiscal 2021.

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Empowering Disaster Response and Recovery From Space
When a natural disaster or emergency occur, an immediate and seamless response is necessary to
save lives. Operational and situational awareness becomes increasingly important to responders.
If critical infrastructure is down in the disaster zone, then the systems and networks required for
powering the relief efforts are compromised. Ground operations must look to space to solve their
communication needs. Read the full story.
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Towberman Named Space Force’s First Senior Enlisted Advisor
By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Jay Raymond has tapped Chief Master Sgt. Roger
Towberman to become the Space Force’s first senior enlisted advisor. In the
coming weeks, Towberman will transition from serving as U.S. Space Command’s
senior enlisted leader and Air Force Space Command’s command chief to advising
Raymond and Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett on all matters related to “the
welfare, readiness, morale, proper utilization, and progress of Space Force
members and their families,” according to a Feb. 13 release.

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NATO Tentatively Agrees to Send More Trainers to Iraq
By Brian W. Everstine

NATO has agreed “in principle” to send additional personnel to Iraq,
potentially freeing up the U.S. to bring some of its training personnel home,
Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced Feb. 13. NATO member states agreed to
send more train, advise, and assist personnel to the country, through Esper
would not identify the nations. U.S. officials have been pressing the alliance
to carry more of the load, especially as tensions rise in the region. NATO
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he has “started the process” of
increasing the alliance’s presence in the country at the invitation of the
Iraqi government.

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U.S., Taliban Negotiating Temporary Reduction in Violence in Afghanistan
By Brian W. Everstine

The U.S. and Taliban are negotiating a seven-day “reduction in violence” so
peace talks can move forward, though the specifics of the proposal aren’t
being released as American officials discuss the proposal with allies, Defense
Secretary Mark Esper said. Speaking at the conclusion of a NATO defense
ministerial conference in Belgium on Feb. 13, Esper said he has been consulting
with allies on the “path forward” in Afghanistan. As these discussions
occur, U.S. aircraft are continuing a busy pace of airstrikes in the country,
with new statistics from Air Forces Central Command showing 415 bombs dropped in
the first month of the year.

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NORTHCOM Preparing for the “Worst Case Scenario” with Coronavirus
By Brian W. Everstine

U.S. Northern Command is focused on mitigating a further outbreak of the new
coronavirus, as it helps the Department of Health and Human Services quarantine
and treat those who could have been exposed to the virus. NORTHCOM has virtual
meetings every day with combatant commands around the world "to ensure we are
able to respond,” USAF Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy said during a Senate
Armed Services Committee hearing Feb. 13. So far, the command has helped HHS
quarantine more than 600 individuals at military facilities across the country,
and there are 11 facilities near major airports on standby for additional
support if needed, O’Shaughnessy said.

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Radar Sweep

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Eight Republicans Join Democrats to Pass Senate Measure to Limit President Trump's War Powers Against Iran

The 55-45 vote marked a rare bipartisan effort to curb Trump's powers and
underscored lawmakers' concerns that U.S. tensions with Iran could escalate into
a full-fledged war.

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Judge Temporarily Blocks Microsoft Pentagon Cloud Contract after Amazon Suit

A federal judge on Feb. 13 ordered a temporary block on the JEDI cloud contract,
which was awarded to Microsoft, in response to a suit filed by Amazon. Shares of
Microsoft fell on the news, while Amazon’s stock was down slightly. A court
notice announcing the injunction was filed on Feb. 13, but wasn’t public.
It’s unclear why the documents were sealed.

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General Officer Assignments

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein announced 16 general officer
assignments, while U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Jay Raymond
announced a new vice commander for the Space and Missile Systems Center.

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KC-135 Carrying Middle, High School Students Conducts Emergency Landing at MacDill

A KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft taking 21 middle and high school students with an
interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics for an
educational flight made an emergency landing at MacDill Air Force Base in
Florida on Feb. 13.

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U.S. Charges Huawei with Decadeslong Theft of U.S. Trade Secrets

The indictment accuses Huawei of building its empire on the backs of other
companies, including six U.S. firms, by copying intellectual property and then
selling it in products around the world. From as early as 2000, the Department
of Justice said the company stole source code for internet routers,
misappropriated robotic technology, and stole proprietary information about
cellular antennas.

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War on Autopilot? It Will Be Harder Than the Pentagon Thinks

Despite defense contractors’ glittering demonstrations, difficult realities
are challenging the military’s race to network everything.

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Martin: Army Ready to Lead on Counter-UAS

Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Joseph Martin says he is working closely with
Defense Department acquisition chief Ellen Lord as the service takes the lead on
counter-drone technology.

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Sigmatech Wins Air Force Contract to Support the Office of Space Acquisition and Integration

Sigmatech, a professional services firm headquartered in Huntsville, Ala., has
won a five-year $74 million contract to provide expert support staff to the
office of the assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and
integration, the company announced Feb. 12.

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Rapid Acquisition & Sustainment

All the news and insight on the Air Force’s moves to streamline acquisition
and accelerate the future. Check out our comprehensive landing page for USAF
acquisition coverage.

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One More Thing...
Last of the Legendary World War II Flying Tigers Dies

A Columbus, Ga., man considered to be the last surviving Flying Tiger, died Feb.
6. Frank Losonsky, who joined the First American Volunteer Group in May 1941,
passed away from natural causes at the age of 99. The Flying Tigers initially
consisted of 311 members who were tasked with protecting China from the Japanese
forces. Structured similarly to the Eagle Squadrons in the Royal Air Force who
fought during the Battle of Britain, the Flying Tigers were organized within the
Chinese air force and flew under the Republic of China flag.

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