National Guard Youth Foundation ChalleNGe Gala 2011

Gen. Craig McKinley gives each cadet a challenge coin before the National Guard Youth Foundation's 2011 ChalleNGe Champions Gala March 1, 2011, in Washington. this year's gala was the celebrated the program's 100,000th graduate, cadet Tori Walston, from Louisiana. General McKinley is the chief of the National Guard Bureau. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Darron Salzer)

JFCC-Space commander highlights need for improved space situational awareness

Lt. Gen. Susan Helms speaks with students at the Sixth Annual Ilan Ramon International Space Conference in Tel-Aviv, Israel, Jan. 30, 2011. The students used this opportunity to ask the general questions about her assignment as an astronaut with NASA. During her two-day visit to Tel-Aviv, General Helms delivered a keynote speech at the conference and met with Israeli military leaders. General Helms is the commander of U.S. Strategic Command's Joint Functional Component Command for Space. (U.S. Air Force photo/Major Stacie N. Shafran)

STRATCOM change of command

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates presents the U.S. Strategic Command flag to Gen. C. Robert Kehler during the change-of-command ceremony Jan. 28, 2011, at Offutt, Air Force Base, Neb., as Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff looks on. General Kehler was taking command from Gen. Kevin P. Chilton who retired following the change of command. (Defense Department photo)

STRATCOM change of command

The four daughters of Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, outgoing commander of U.S. Strategic Command, smile as he thanks them for their "involuntary service" during his career. General Chilton made the remarks during the change-of-command ceremony Jan. 28, 2011, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. Gen. C. Robert Kehler assumed command during the ceremony. (Defense Department photo/Cherie Cullen)

HASC Hearing on Efficiencies in DoD

(From right) Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Philip Breedlove, Vice Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Duford, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli and Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn III listen to opening comments during the House Armed Services Committee hearing on efficiencies in the Department of Defense on Capitol Hill Jan. 26, 2011, in Washington. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

HASC Hearing on Efficiencies in DoD

(From left) Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Philip Breedlove visit with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. McKeon (far right) on Capitol Hill Jan. 26, 2011 in Washington. General Breedlove, the vice chiefs from the other services and the deputy secretary of defense discussed Department of Defense efficiencies with committee members during a hearing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

Assistant Secretary of Air Force visits Baghdad

Daniel Ginsberg talks with Airmen from Sather Air Base, Iraq, Jan. 21, 2011. Mr. Ginsberg toured Iraq to discuss the Air Force's progress in the drawdown of U.S. forces in country. Mr. Ginsberg is the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

AFSPC commander

Gen. William L. Shelton receives his first salute from the men and women of Air Force Space Command upon becoming the 15th commander of AFSPC in a ceremony Jan. 5, 2011, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Duncan Wood)

2010 General Lew Allen Jr. Award

Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Smith speaks to the audience after receiving the 2010 General Lew Allen Jr. Award during a ceremony Jan. 4, 2011, in the Pentagon. The award is presented annually to an officer and to an NCO working in aircraft, munitions or missile maintenance and directly involved in aircraft sortie generation. The award's namesake served as the Air Force Chief of Staff from 1978 to 1982. Sergeant Smith was honored for his work as the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Viper Aircraft Maintenance Unit superintendent at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Varhegyi)

2010 General Lew Allen Jr.trophy

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presents the 2010 General Lew Allen Jr. Award to Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Smith during a ceremony Jan. 4, 2011, in the Pentagon. The award is presented annually to an officer and to an NCO working in aircraft, munitions or missile maintenance and directly involved in aircraft sortie generation. The award's namesake served as the Air Force Chief of Staff from 1978 to 1982. Sergeant Smith was honored for his work as the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Viper Aircraft Maintenance Unit superintendent at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Varhegyi)

Gen. Mark A. Welsh III takes command of USAFE

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Gen. Roger A. Brady, outgoing U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, and incoming Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, present arms during the posting of the colors and playing of the National Anthems to begin a change of command ceremony, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 13, 2010. Gen. Brady, outgoing USAFE commander, relinquished command during the change of command ceremony after providing command and control for air, space and missile defense for activities in an area of operations covering almost one-fifth of the globe which included 51 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)

Gen. Mark A. Welsh III takes command of USAFE

U.S. Air Force Gen. Roger A. Brady watches his flag furl during his retirement ceremony after relinquishing command of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 13, 2010. Gen. Brady, relinquished command of USAFE during the change of command ceremony after providing command and control for air, space and missile defense for activities in an area of operations covering almost one-fifth of the globe which included 51 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)

Air Guard strengthens stance for homeland defense, civil support

Maj. Gen. Garry C. Dean addresses about 450 guardmembers during the Air Guard's Domestic Operations Equipment Requirements Conference Aug. 2 to 6, 2010 in Baltimore. General Dean is the commander of 1st Air Force and commander of Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Mike Smith)

McKinley: Relationship between National Guard, parent components strongest ever

Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley addresses attendees Dec. 8, 2010, at the Reserve Officer's Association of America's Industry Day in Washington, D.C. During the event, General McKinley spoke on ways in which the Guard will continue to meet mission expectations in a budget constrained environment. General McKinley is the chief of the National Guard Bureau. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy)

HASC Hearing on Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee Dec. 3, 2010, in Washington, D.C. General Schwartz, his fellow service chiefs and the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff testified on the recently released Comprehensive Review Working Group report, which addresses the potential repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

HASC Hearing on Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee Dec. 3, 2010, in Washington, D.C. General Schwartz, his fellow service chiefs and the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff testified on the recently released Comprehensive Review Working Group report, which addresses the potential repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

California AFA Symposium

Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton speaks to attendees at the Air Force Association's 2010 Global Warfare Symposium Nov. 18, 2010, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lou Hernandez)

California AFA symposium

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz speaks to attendees at the Air Force Association's 2010 Global Warfare Symposium Nov. 19, 2010, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The topic of the general's speech was "Warfighters Perspective: Operational Effectiveness in Space." (U.S. Air Force photo/Lou Hernandez)

Dover AFB Fisher House Dedication

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz consoles Judy Faunce of Wilmington, Del., following a dedication ceremony of the Fisher House for Families of the Fallen on Nov. 10, 2010, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Mrs. Faunce is the mother of U.S. Army Capt. Brian Faunce, who was killed in service in 2003. The Fisher House Foundation built the 50th Fisher House at Dover to support families visiting the base for dignified transfers of their loved ones. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

Dover AFB Fisher House Dedication

Kenneth Fisher, Fisher House Foundation chairman, talks with Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley on Nov. 10, 2010, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., before the Fisher House for Families of the Fallen dedication ceremony. The foundation built the 50th Fisher House at Dover to support families visiting the base for dignified transfers of their loved ones. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

CSAF becomes honorary Tuskegee Airman

Byron Morris (right), the Tuskegee Airmen East Coast Chapter president, helps Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz slip on his new Tuskegee Airmen red jacket at the Pentagon Nov. 9, 2010, as retired Brig. Gen. Leon Johnson, Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated president, looks on. General Johnson presented General Schwartz with an honorary membership in Tuskegee Airmen during a brief ceremony. General Schwartz joins Gen. Merrill McPeak and Gen. Ronald Fogleman as the only Air Force chiefs of staff to be recognized with the honorary membership. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

General Rice at Texas Motor Speedway

Lt. Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., incoming commander of Air Education and Training Command, speaks with pit crew members at Texas Motor Speedway Nov. 7, 2010, before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The general, who has been confirmed for his fourth star, conducted a swearing-in ceremony for Delayed Enlistment Program members, and met members of the Air Force's No. 19 NASCAR team. (U.S. Air Force photo/Steven McCray)

General Rice at Texas Motor Speedway

Lt. Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., incoming commander of Air Education and Training Command, greets Delayed Enlistment Program members at Texas Motor Speedway Nov. 7, 2010, before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The general, who has been confirmed for his fourth star, conducted the DEP swearing-in ceremony in front of thousands of NASCAR fans before the start of the race. (U.S. Air Force photo/Steven McCray)

Top chief meets with enlisted Airmen, future officers

Cadet 2nd Class Michael O'Kelley (right) talks to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy about the U.S. Air Force Academy's falconry program during a visit to the Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)