Air Force Magazine
Daily Report for Feb. 20, 2020

View in your Web Browser: [link removed]
Edited by Brian W. Everstine with Rachel S. Cohen and John A. Tirpak

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DOD Closing Dozens of Military Clinics to Retirees, Families
By Brian W. Everstine

The Pentagon is downsizing or closing 50 medical clinics, including 12 on Air
Force bases, in a move the department says will “increase the readiness of our
operational and medical forces.” But the change will also force families and
retirees away from some USAF facilities and into TRICARE civilian providers.
Matt Donovan, the former acting Air Force secretary who is performing the duties
of the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, outlined the
changes in a Feb. 19 report to congressional leaders.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CSpOC Eyes New Space C2 Tools From Speedy Coders
By Rachel S. Cohen

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.—The Space Force’s Combined Space
Operations Center here is finding its rhythm with “Section 31,” a software
coding team tasked with regularly rolling out new space command and control
apps. “Right now, onboarding new tools is a full-time job,” CSpOC boss Col.
Scott Brodeur told Air Force Magazine in a recent interview. “Articulating our
requirements, working with companies to build software, deploying the software
and making it work—I have a division that just works that full-time." The
Space Force wants space surveillance tools that are more accurate and
sustainable, as well as a high-accuracy catalog of objects in space, among other
products that will give the military a better picture of what systems on orbit
are doing.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
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.
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint Tests Begin for New ICBM Patrol Helicopter
By Rachel S. Cohen and Brian W. Everstine

The Air Force completed its first combined test flight of the MH-139A Grey Wolf
with manufacturer Boeing on Feb. 11, the service said in a Feb. 19 release.
Testing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the first time Air Force pilots get to
vet the new helo, which will replace the Vietnam War-era UH-1N Huey as a nuclear
missile field patrol and VIP transport aircraft. “Boeing completed extensive
flight testing on Grey Wolf to satisfy Federal Aviation Administration
requirements before the introduction of mixed contractor and Air Force crews,”
the service said in the release. “The MH-139A program should complete initial
military ground testing later this month.”

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top DOD Policy Official Stepping Down
By Brian W. Everstine

The Pentagon’s top policy official will leave his position Feb. 28 at the
request of President Donald Trump in another departure of top Defense Department
officials in recent weeks. John Rood, who has served as the under secretary of
defense for policy, wrote in a Feb. 19 departure letter to Trump that “It is
my understanding from Secretary (Mark) Esper that you requested my resignation
from serving as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Senior administration
officials appointed by the President serve at the pleasure of the President, and
therefore, as you have requested, I am providing my resignation effective
February 28, 2020.” Trump, in a tweet, said “I would like to thank John Rood
for his service to our Country, and wish him well in his future endeavors!”

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

X-37B Among Nine Projects Nominated for Collier Trophy
By John A. Tirpak

The Air Force's X-37B reusable unmanned spaceplane is among nine nominees for
the 2019 Collier Trophy, one of the aerospace field's highest honors. The
Collier Trophy has been awarded for 108 years, and honors “the greatest
achievement in aeronautics and astronautics in America,” the association said
in announcing the 2019 nominees.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Radar Sweep

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Former Thunderbird Tapped to Lead Air Force’s 36th Wing on Guam

A former operations officer and F-16 instructor pilot for the Air Force’s air
demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, has been selected as the next commander of
the 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

[link removed]
(Subscription Required)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DARPA Makes Last-Minute Change to Launch Competition Rules

With just a week before the first scheduled launch in the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency’s responsive launch competition, the agency is
tweaking the rules to allow the sole remaining company to perform both launches
from the same spaceport.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pentagon to Adopt Detailed Principles for Using AI

The Defense Department will soon adopt a detailed set of rules to govern how it
develops and uses artificial intelligence, officials familiar with the matter
told Defense One. A draft of the rules was released by the Defense Innovation
Board, or DIB, in October as “Recommendations on the Ethical Use of Artificial
Intelligence.” Sources indicated that the Department’s policy will follow
the draft closely.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blackjack Gets 2021 Budget Boost for Two Sats

DARPA’s Blackjack program is slated to get $75 million in 2021 to demonstrate
the viability of small satellite constellations in Low Earth Orbit for a variety
of military missions, up $25 million from the $50 million allocated by Congress
last year.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Force Implements Pathfinder Program for Cybersecurity Certification

The Air Force is implementing a pathfinder program to give students another
opportunity to pass the Security+ exam and follow their initial cybersecurity
Air Force Specialty Code. The Security+ certification can be acquired through
passing the Security+ exam and is necessary to validate that an individual
possesses the necessary skills to perform in an information technology
security-based career. The exam is known to be complex and difficult and many
Airmen fail and lose their designated career field.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPINION: The Government Must Be Honest When Funding the Air Force and Space Force

Air and space are critical domains for our national security, yet our nation has
consistently failed to invest sufficiently in these requirements. As a result,
today’s U.S. Air Force is older and smaller than at any time in its history,
even as it begins to birth the new U.S. Space Force with massive funding needs
of its own.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Government of Somalia, AFRICOM Conduct Airstrike against Al-Shabab Terrorists

In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command
conducted a precision airstrike targeting al-Shabab terrorists in the vicinity
of Wadajir, Somalia, Feb. 19.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rapid Acquisition & Sustainment

The Air Force and U.S. defense establishment are breaking down barriers and
injecting speed, innovation, and creativity into the procurement system. Check
out our new page to learn more about these efforts.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One More Thing...
F-117A Nighthawk for Sale (Sort of)

Looking for the ultimate driveway ornament or something special for your local
airport’s transient parking apron? Look no further than a decommissioned
Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- Daily Report: [link removed]
- Contact Us: [link removed]
- Advertise With Us: [link removed]
- Purchase/Reprint: [link removed]

- Air Force Association: [link removed]
- Join AFA: [link removed]

- AF Mag on Facebook: [link removed]
- AF Mag on Twitter: [link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Published by the Air Force Association

All airforcemag.com material is under copyright of
the Air Force Association. All rights reserved.

The Air Force Association
1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA
22209-1198

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe or change your preferences, please visit the link below:
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------