Category: Aviation

In the 2026 DoW Environmental Awards, the Department of the Air Force earned top honors in four categories highlighting its commitment to environmental stewardship strengthening mission readiness and improving the quality of life for Airmen, Guardians and their families and the communities that host DAF installations.

Senior Air Force leaders gathered at Edwards Air Force Base to honor the eight B-52 Stratofortress crew members lost in a June 15 crash, paying tribute to their ultimate sacrifice and dedication to the flight test mission and American airpower.

When U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach hosted Argentine air force Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Gustavo Valverde for an official counterpart visit on May 19, the mission was clearly defined: deepen bilateral defense cooperation and advance shared security priorities in the Western Hemisphere.

The Department of Air Force has initiated the reassignment of combat air forces advanced intelligence formal training units from Air Education and Training Command to Air Combat Command, a streamlining process designed to align intelligence Airmen directly with combat-focused missions.

For the first time, Guardians joined Airmen to work side-by-side with software developers during the Multi-Decision Advantage Sprint for Human-Machine Teaming, a two-week experiment evaluating how AI tools can effectively integrate to solve complex problems in contested environments.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s strength and conditioning program was recently recognized as the 2025 Department of the Air Force Fitness and Sports Program of the Year for Region 2. The program enhances the operational readiness, lethality, and long-term health of Airmen and Soldiers through tailored fitness coaching and injury prevention.

Exercise Red Flag-Alaska 26-2 concluded June 12, bringing together more than 2,100 service members from the U.S. and partner nations for realistic air combat training at Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. The exercise integrates joint and coalition forces into a realistic threat environment, enhancing readiness and warfighting capabilities with the largest combat training range in the world.

Two U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 492nd and 919th Special Operations Wings became the first U.S. military personnel in 20 years to graduate from the Argentine mountain warfare course. The rigorous training in Patagonia fostered international interoperability and strengthened the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Argentina.

Department of the Air Force and Space Force senior leaders presented a unified front to a Senate subcommittee on June 9, justifying a historic $338.8 billion budget request for fiscal 2027. The funding prioritizes restoring foundational readiness, rapid modernization of weapon systems, and evolving space defense capabilities to ensure domain superiority.

In a historic milestone for future fifth- and sixth-generation fighter pilot production, two leaders from the 99th Flying Training Squadron have unlocked the unit’s operational independence by becoming the first Air Education and Training Command pilots qualified on the T-7A Red Hawk.