At a House Oversight Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, witnesses and lawmakers discussed the issue of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs or UFOs). Former U.S. intelligence official David Grusch claimed that the government has a long-standing program to retrieve UAPs, while former Navy Commander David Fravor and former Navy pilot Ryan Graves reported their own experiences with UAPs. Lawmakers called for more information from the federal government and urged them to address the stigma surrounding UFO reporting.
Posts tagged as “Air Force”
Senate Democrats have called out Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama for defending white nationalism and claiming that militant white people are simply “Americans.” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said this is “deadly serious stuff” and urged Tuberville to apologize, while Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown said his nomination to become the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff could be held up in the Senate due to the hold. Schumer said Tuberville’s comments are “deeply and terribly disturbing” and called on Republican colleagues to urge him to apologize.
The U.S. has accused Russia of harassing its military drones in Syria, with Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich saying that three Russian fighter jets dropped parachute flares in front of the drones, forcing them to conduct evasive maneuvers. This is the latest in a series of similar incidents, with the U.S. accusing Russia of attempting to disrupt its operations in Syria. The U.S. has called on Russia to adhere to international norms and protocols in its interactions with U.S. aircraft, though it is unclear how the U.S. will respond to the latest incident.
President Joe Biden took a tumble at the U.S. Air Force Academy's commencement ceremony in Colorado on Thursday, but was helped to his feet by two Secret Service agents and an Air Force official. The incident was met with cheers from the crowd, and Biden is expected to make a full recovery with no further comment from the White House.
The Pentagon has blocked a U.S. Air Force base in Nevada from hosting a drag show in celebration of Pride Month, citing current Department of Defense policy. The decision has been met with criticism from LGBTQ activists and allies, who argue that the military should be more inclusive of its LGBTQ members. The Human Rights Campaign has released a statement saying the decision “sends a dangerous message that the military is not a welcoming place for LGBTQ service members and their families.”
President Joe Biden is expected to announce the nomination of Air Force Gen. Charles "C.Q." Brown Jr. to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, making him the first African American to serve in both the Pentagon’s top military and civilian positions. Brown is a history-making fighter pilot with deep knowledge of China and is currently the commander of the Pacific Air Forces. If confirmed, he will take over from Gen. Mark Milley, who held the job during the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol and the deadly withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
Two former associates of Steve Bannon, Brian Kolfage and Andrew Badolato, have been sentenced to four years and three months in prison for their roles in the fraudulent We Build The Wall fundraising campaign. The two men were accused of using the money for personal expenses, including luxury vacations and home renovations, and had diverted more than $350,000 from the campaign for their own use. Bannon, who served as a top adviser to President Donald Trump, also faces fraud charges in connection with the campaign and is awaiting trial.
The Air Force has ordered the 102nd Intelligence Wing to stand down from its intelligence mission as the service's inspector general conducts an investigation into the alleged posting of secret Pentagon documents to social media by an airman. A memo from Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and other military leaders has directed each unit to conduct a security-focused stand down in the next 30 days. A federal judge has delayed a pretrial detention hearing for the airman, and it is unclear when the investigation will be completed or when the 102nd Intelligence Wing will resume its mission.