Friday, December 12, 2025 l Vol. 50, Number 50
SERVING TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE AND THE MILITARY COMMUNITY OF SOLANO COUNTY
FEROCIOUS FALCON 6 Page 3
TAES EXERCISE Page 4
HURRICANE HUNTERS Page 7
TAILWIND
TRAVIS
A product of Daily Republic
LIGHT
SHOW
Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey/U.S. Air National Guard file
The Northern Lights dance above Alaska Air National Guard 168th Wing KC-135 Stratotankers at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Nov. 12. As America’s premier Arctic
tanker unit, the 168th Wing delivers vital air refueling capability that keeps U.S. and allied aircraft mission-ready across the Arctic and beyond.
18 military hospitals receive Leapfrog’s highest hospital safety grade Defense Health Agency Communications
The Pegasus represents a key chapter in air mobility, one built on innovation and unwavering commitment to the mission,” Lamontagne said. “To the airmen who will fly, fix and support this aircraft, you carry forward a proud legacy of excellence.” The delivery of the 99th and 100th KC-46As is an important milestone marking years of hard work, determination and progress across the mobility enterprise. Airmen were instrumental in laying this foundation of mission success with arrival of the first two
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — The Defense Health Agency announced 18 military hospitals received an “A” rating in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assessment for fall 2025. These high grades reflect DHA’s commitment to transparency and continuous improvement in providing high-quality care to its patients. “These ratings underscore the strength of our integrated Military Health System and the unwavering commitment of our teams to safe, high-quality care,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Jeannine Ryder, DHA’s acting assistant director for Health Care Administration. “When our hospitals perform at this level, it reinforces trust – trust from our patients, our families, and the service members who rely on us to sustain readiness at home and abroad. This achievement reflects disciplined processes and a continuous focus on improvement across every military treatment facility.” The Leapfrog Group is a national, independent organization focused on health care quality. The organization evaluates hospitals on a wide range of safety measures, including errors, injuries, and infections. Leapfrog’s grading system uses up to 22 evidence-based measures of patient safety. A hospital must meet specific criteria to be eligible for participation in the Leapfrog safety assessment. In the Fall 2025 ratings, 32% of participating hospitals nationwide received the highest grade. Of the eligible military hospitals participating in the grading assessment, 90% received an “A” grade. “I am incredibly proud that a record number of our military hospitals have received an A grade this fall,” said Dr. Paul Cordts, DHA’s deputy assistant director for Medical Affairs and chief medical officer. “Participation in Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grade program provides a welcome opportunity to evaluate and improve health care across DHA’s global system of military hospitals and clinics.” DHA’s engagement with Leapfrog began about eight years ago when it sought to incorporate
See KC-46A, Page 5
See Safety, Page 7
Brian Collett/U.S. Air Force file
Col. Brandon Shroyer, right, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Laura Hoover, 60th AMW command chief, offer a salute to the Air Force‘s
100th KC-46A Pegasus to Travis Air Force Base, Dec. 2. The arrival ceremony marked a major milestone as Team Travis accepted the Air Force’s 99th and 100th KC-46.
99th and 100th KC-46A Pegasus delivered to Travis Air Force Base Staff Sgt. Dalton Williams AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — Air Mobility Command welcomed the 99th and 100th KC-46A Pegasus delivered to the U.S. Air Force, during an arrival ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, Dec. 2. Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, chief of the Air Force Reserve and the commander of Air Force Reserve Command, flew the 99th KC-46A in formation alongside Gen. John D. Lamontagne, AMC commander, who flew the 100th aircraft to Travis AFB, increasing the wing’s ability to
connect and project the joint force around the world. The KC-46A Pegasus is an aerial refueling aircraft capable of performing single and multi-point simultaneous aerial refueling. Designed for versatility and survivability, the aircraft can also support passenger and cargo movement, aeromedical evacuation, and features defensive, self-protection, and communication systems suited for contested environments. “Today marks not just the arrival of the 100th KC-46 delivered, but the continued strengthening of our nation’s global reach and readiness.