Air Force Chief Says 70% of ALL Combat Aircraft ‘Non Combat Capable By July’
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UPDATED: Added Capitol Hill Reaction AFA Winter, Orlando: Imagine if someone told you 70 percent of all American combat aircraft would not be ready to fly in time of war by July. That’s just what Air Force Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh told some 600 people attending the Air Force Associations’s annual… Keep reading →
Air Force Leaders Warn Budget Woes Could Hollow the Force
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The Air Force’s top leaders warn that the “nation’s on-going budget gymnastics impose costly consequence on the Air Force and other services” and pleaded with Congress to avoid sequester, which they said would leave a “hollow force” unable to perform its mission. In a joint appearance before Pentagon reporters Friday, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley… Keep reading →
SASC Sends CSAF Nomination & More To Senate Floor
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SASC sent full Senate nomination of Gen. Mark Welsh for CSAF http://aol.it/OcwsYw; also LTG John Kelly for SOUTHCOM, LTG Frank Grass for NGB Sydney%20Freedberg
Congress Must Cut Guard Now Or Face Worse Choices Later: SecAf Donley
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CAPITOL HILL: Air Force Secretary Michael Donley warned Congress today that if it blocks cuts to the Air National Guard this year, it will just be “doubling down” on cuts required in 2014 — maybe not to the Guard, but somewhere in the Air Force — even if sequestration is averted. If sequestration does take… Keep reading →
Incoming Air Force Chief Bows To Hill On Guard Cuts, Global Hawk; Warns On F-35 Costs
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CAPITOL HILL: Gen. Mark Welsh, the next Air Force Chief of Staff, admitted that the service’s fiscal 2013 budget was “simply not executable” in the face of Congressional opposition over cuts to the Air National Guard. Welsh vowed to work with Congress, the Guard, and governors “so we never end up here again.” Welsh also… Keep reading →
Short-timer Gen. Schwartz Urges Senate To Vote On Air Force Nominations
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WASHINGTON: Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz, nearing the end of his 40-year career, hit back aggressively today at a series of congressional moves to obstruct the promotion of top Air Force leaders, including Schwartz’s successor as Chief of Staff, and to undo what the service believes are essential force structure changes. Schwartz was dismissive of… Keep reading →
Panetta Announces Gen. Mark Welsh, Presumptive Air Force Chief of Staff
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It’s official: Gen. Mark Welsh will be nominated as the next Air Force Chief of Staff. SecDef Panetta made announcement at press conference @colinclarkaol
Next Air Force Chief Likely To Be Former CIA Military Deputy; ‘Absolute Best Pick’
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WASHINGTON: The likely pick for next Air Force Chief of Staff possesses acquisition experience and would bring a vibrant leader and strong communicator to head the nation’s air and space force. Gen. Mark Welsh, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, served under both Mike Hayden and Leon Panetta at CIA as the man responsible… Keep reading →