AirForceDad.com

This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

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Robert M. Gates is the only man to thank two presidents for the privilege of serving as secretary of defense.

At the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute June 30 on the Pentagon's parade field, Secretary Gates thanked President George W. Bush for nominating him for the job in 2006, and President Barack Obama for retaining him in it during the change in administrations in 2009.

At the ceremony, President Obama praised Secretary Gates' bipartisanship, and awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award a president can confer to a civilian.
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I have been reflecting over the past few months on the economic times in which we find ourselves as individuals and as a nation. I wonder how we are dealing with the stress that it places in our lives and in our families.

While I was mulling over my own challenges, I realized how truly grateful I was for all that I have and, more specifically, a great job and being a member of this great organization we call Team Hill. I realized that the evidence of our gratitude may be the very mindset that will, in fact, help all of us to meet our challenges.
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A pilot who landed a crippled F-15E Strike Eagle after taking off from Kunsan Air Base, Korea, received the Air Force's most prestigious flight safety award here June 29.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley presented Capt. Hans Buckwalter, of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, with the 2010 Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy for outstanding achievement in airmanship and flying proficiency.

The award, established in 1958, recognizes outstanding feats of airmanship by an aircrew member who, by extraordinary skill, exceptional alertness, ingenuity or proficiency, averts or minimizes the seriousness of an aircraft accident in terms of injury, loss of life, aircraft or property damage, Secretary Donley said.
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On its journey toward sustainable installations, the Air Force recently released new rules for sustainable design and development.

The policy, released by Air Force Civil Engineer Maj. Gen. Timothy Byers, further emphasizes the Air Force's continued focus on installation and environmental stewardship.

"Sustainable facilities are in line with our strategic vision of 'Build to Last,'" General Byers said. "Our installations are our war-fighting platforms, so our dedication to sustainable installations is not only key to our nation's air, space and cyberspace superiority, but also paramount to our ability to effectively and efficiently 'fly, fight and win.'"
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Beginning July 1, Airmen will no longer receive short tour credit for overseas temporary duty assignments of 181 consecutive days. This change initially was announced in a memorandum signed by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz in April.

In June 2003, a temporary exception to policy was approved to award short-tour credit to Airmen who deployed to hostile environments for at least 181 consecutive days after 9/11. This exception was initiated since traditional AEF deployments at the time were 120 days. A similar exception was made for Airmen deploying in support of Desert Storm in the early 1990s.
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Despite an increased operations tempo and fiscal challenges, Airmen continue to develop and remain an integral part of the joint and coalition team, the service's top enlisted Airman said here June 30 on his second anniversary in office.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy discussed deployments, resiliency, professional development and fitness, with a focus on care for Airmen and their families.

"I'm extremely proud of our Airmen.  They're educated, trained, combat-hardened and very motivated," Chief Roy said. "But we are a nation at war and the demands on Airmen and their families are high, so it's necessary to provide the resources and opportunities for their continued growth in overcoming those challenges."
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Air Force officials here announced June 30 that search and rescue teams have found conclusive evidence the pilot of an F-16 Fighting Falcon, which crashed at approximately 5:30 p.m. June 28, did not survive.

At the time of the accident, the single-seat F-16, based at Nellis Air Force Base, was participating in a combat training mission within military operating airspace managed by The Nevada Test and Training Range. It crashed on Bureau of Land Management property approximately 20 miles west of Caliente, Nev.
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The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command will continue its inquiry into any potential crimes or other improprieties committed at Arlington National Cemetery, a spokesman for CID announced yesterday.

"Secretary of the Army John McHugh stated a year ago that the Army was not done investigating problems at Arlington National Cemetery," said Chris Grey, the CID's chief of public affairs, at a news conference at the cemetery here. "We are vigorously pursuing any wrongdoing, and if criminal conduct is found, the Army will take appropriate action."
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Airmen participate in an HC-130P Combat King inspection here June 20.

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