Air Force Magazine
Daily Report for July 27, 2020

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

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Space Force Announces Significant Reorganization
By Brian W. Everstine

The Space Force on July 24 made major organizational changes, including
inactivating wings and activating new commands, while selection boards are
meeting to bring in thousands of new uniformed personnel. During a livestreamed
ceremony, the Space Force inactivated three space wings and eight lower echelon
commands previously part of Air Force Space Command, and activated its new Space
Training and Readiness Delta Provisional, two garrison commands, and eight
mission deltas—the service’s term for the command level known in the Air
Force as a wing. “Today we take action, an important and significant step,
towards the development of a 21st century service purpose-built to achieve
speed, agility, and unity of effort,” Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, Chief of
Space Operations, said during the ceremony. “This ceremony highlights the most
significant restructure of space units since the establishment of the Air Force
Space Command in 1982.”

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4 Companies Move Forward in Skyborg Competition
By Amy McCullough

Boeing, General Atomics, Kratos, and Northrop Grumman received indefinite
delivery, indefinite quantity contracts that allow them to compete for Skyborg
Vanguard Program delivery orders, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
announced on July 23. Skyborg is an affordable unmanned system that will partner
with fighter jets and utilize artificial intelligence to conduct strike and
intelligence-collection missions that are too dangerous for manned aircraft.
“We have the opportunity to transform our warfighting capabilities and change
the way we fight and the way we employ air power," Brig. Gen. Dale R. White,
program executive officer for fighters and advanced aircraft, said of the
Skyborg program.

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Senate Confirms New Bosses of AMC, ACC
By Brian W. Everstine

The Senate on July 20 confirmed a series of Air Force leaders, including the
next commanders of Air Mobility Command and Air Combat Command. Lt. Gen.
Jacqueline D. Van Ovost will receive her fourth star, and take over as leader of
AMC from retiring Gen. Maryanne Miller, while Lt. Gen. Mark D. Kelly also will
receive his fourth star and to take the reins of ACC from retiring Gen. James
M. Holmes.

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AFRICOM: Russia Expanding Its Presence in Libya
By Brian W. Everstine

Russian private military contractors have expanded their presence in Libya,
bringing in additional aircraft and air defense systems, U.S. Africa Command
alleges through newly released surveillance photographs. The private Wagner
Group deployed to Libya to support military commander Khalifa Haftar’s
offensive against the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord. New
photographs show Il-76 cargo aircraft, Su-24 Fencer fighter jets, SA-22 air
defense systems, armored vehicles, and formations of personnel at Al Khadim
Airfield. This deployment is addition to the May movement of Su-24s and MiG-29s
to Al Jufra Airfield. “Russia continues to play an unhelpful role in Libya by
delivering supplies and equipment to the Wagner group,” U.S. Marine Corps Maj.
Gen. Bradford J. Gering, AFRICOM’s director of operations, said in a release.

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Report: Severity of Military Spouse Employment Issues Varies by Location
By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

The severity of military spouse unemployment and underemployment differs by zip
code, and job droughts in communities surrounding some U.S. military bases may
be making it harder for spouses to find work, even if they’re armed with
college degrees, a new report from The Deloitte Center for Government Insights
suggests. “Well over half of all military spouses live in areas with
below-average availability of work,” the report states. “In fact, our
research indicates that of the military spouses who live on or near the largest
bases, 44 percent live in labor markets with negative availability of jobs, that
is, there are fewer jobs available than there are job seekers.” And even
though military spouses are more likely to hold a bachelor’s degree or higher
than the general U.S. population, the report notes, “in hotter labor markets,"
they still might fall short of their competition for jobs.

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Proposed US Digital Service Academy Could Funnel Tech Talent to Government
By Amanda Miller

In its latest round of recommendations to Congress formalized July 21, the
National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence suggests ways to get
high-tech employees trained and then locked into federal service
commitments—ideas modeled after the military service academies and ROTC
programs. The NSCAI proposes a new degree-granting university to create a
pipeline of security-cleared federal employees, plus a reserve component whose
members would get much of their tuition covered at other universities in
exchange for part-time service. The recommendations include a seven-year plan to
get the proposed United States Digital Service Academy up and running, with its
first class of 500 students enrolled by Year 3 of the plan.

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Virtual Events: Mitchell, ANWA DC Host Verdon on NNSA Series, and More
By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

On July 29, AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, in partnership with
the Advanced Nuclear Weapons Alliance Deterrence Center, will present a Nuclear
Deterrence Forum with Charles Verdon, deputy administrator for defense programs
at the National Nuclear Security Administration, as part of their NNSA Series.
Event video will tentatively be posted on Mitchell’s <a
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and <a href="[link removed]">YouTube
page</a> after the event.

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Radar Sweep

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Snapshot: DOD and COVID-19

Here's a look at how the Defense Department is being impacted by and responding
to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Trump Admin Officially Makes it Easier to Export Military Drones

The U.S. State Department has officially loosened restrictions on exporting
military unmanned aerial vehicles to foreign nations, a move long sought by the
defense industry. Under a new policy announced Friday, unmanned aerial systems
that fly at speeds below 800 kph will no longer be subject to the “presumption
of denial” that, in effect, blocked most international sales of drones like
the MQ-9 Reaper and the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

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US Air Force C-17 Flies Kuwait Emir, 91, to Minnesota After Surgery at Home

Kuwait's 91-year-old ruling emir landed on Thursday in the United States after
being flown across the world in a U.S. Air Force C-17 flying hospital, and just
days after undergoing an unspecified surgery at home. The dramatic airlift
reflected the close ties between the two nations but also raised concerns over
the ruler's medical condition.

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Air Force Denies Surveillance Plane Gathered Info on Protests When Flying Over Portland

The Air Force said July 24 that a surveillance plane that flew secret missions
from an airport in Portland, Ore., amid protests there this week did not gather
information about the demonstrations. The branch said in a statement that the
flight had been in the works for months and that the plane was on assignment for
a program that tests equipment for U.S. Special Operations.

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F-35s Nest In Big New Alaskan Facility Marking Strategic Shift For Critical Region

Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, will be home to the U.S. Air Force’s second
operational active-duty F-35 wing, the first being the 388th Fighter Wing at
Hill Air Force Base in Utah. This emphasizes the strategic importance of Alaska.

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Air University’s Yearlong Schools Open with In-Residence Teaching

Air University leadership made the decision to go ahead with in-residence
instruction after lengthy consultation with school commandants, the medical
community, and with approval from Air Education and Training Command. “Based
on Secretary of Defense travel guidance, AETC guidance with regard to mission
essential functions, and a continuing assessment of local, state, and federal
COVID-19 guidance and mitigation protocols, the Air University commander made
the decision for in-residence attendance,” said Col. Eugene Moore, Air
University director of staff.

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‘Above and Beyond Six’ Feet Welcomes Deployers Home

The Hanscom Heroes Homecoming is taking on a virtual makeover for the 2020
celebration here as part of a livestream production called “Above and Beyond
Six Feet,” July 29. For the last ten years, base officials have celebrated Air
Force deployers who have returned home during the year with a parade, barbeque
and community celebration. Keeping social distancing guidelines in mind,
organizers have reformatted the occasion into a virtual event.

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One More Thing...
The U.S. Space Force has a Horse. His Name is Ghost

The Space Force introduced its newest Military Working Horse, Ghost, via Twitter
on July 23. The five-year-old Bureau of Land Management Mustang helps patrol
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and other areas that aren’t easily
reachable by vehicle.

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