The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” host a change of command ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Dec. 5, 2025. During the ceremony, U.S. Air Force Col. Nathan Malafa relinquished command of the Thunderbirds to...
The blast of desert heat, the grit of sand, the distant thrum of artillery – these were the sensory hallmarks of Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, in 2003. Stepping off a dusty C-130 into that austere reality, a young captain confronted a bare base, a blank canvas upon which mission success had to be painted with minimal resources. This was not a training scenario; it was the sharp edge of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a proving ground for adaptability in...