U.S. Army Spc. Larry Kirkman, from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, walks a Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle off the runway following a mission at Camp Taji, Iraq, Dec. 26, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathan J. Hoskins

Twenty U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, assigned to the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., participate in the largest formation exercise in history from a single base while demonstrating strategic airdrop capabilities over the coast of Charleston, S.C., Dec. 21, 2006. Defense Dept. photo by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway, U.S. Air Force.

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter takes off for its initial flight over Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 15, 2006. The F-35 is the next generation strike fighter bringing cutting-edge technologies to the battlespace of the future. Lockheed Martin photo by Tom Harvey | Hi-Res Photo | Web Site |

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Donald Bullard, commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, displays the first awarded Navy Expeditionary Warfare pin to Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl Hurtt. Hurtt is the first sailor to rate the award after completing the qualification process and going through a final oral board. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Edward N. Vasquez | Hi-Res Photo |

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, right, prepares to board a C-17 Globemaster III aicraft en route to Iraq Dec. 19, 2006, just one day after he took the oath of office as the 22nd secretary of defense. Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby. | Hi-Res Photo | Fact Sheet |

A Minotaur I rocket lifts off carrying the TacSat-2 micro satellite as well as NASA's GeneSat-1 spacecraft from NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility near Wallops Island, Virginia. U.S. Air Force photo by Michael Kleiman | Hi-Res Photo | Story|

Sailors direct a Landing Craft Air Cushion during well deck operations aboard amphibious assault ship USS Boxer which is currently operating in the Arabian Gulf conducting Maritime Security Operations in support of the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Apprentice Joshua Valcarcel. | Hi-Res Photo |

An MV-22A Osprey tilt rotor aircraft from Marine Tiltrotor Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 makes an approach during a compatibility test at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC. Dec. 12, 2006.
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Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld presents and award for Transformation Support for non-traditional missions to U.S. Navy Adm. Michael Mullen and U.S. Air Force Gen. Buzz Moseley during an award ceremony honoring Defense Department initiatives and accomplishments at the Pentagon, Dec. 13, 2006. Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby | Hi-Res Photo |

Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon R. England, left, and Australian Minister for Defense Brendan Nelson sign the Joint Strike Fighter Memorandum of Understanding in Washington, D.C., Dec. 12, 2006, as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer, far right, look on. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Brandan W. Schulzet | Hi-Res Photo | Story | Web Site |

U.S. Marine Corps CV-22 Osprey helicopters practice touch and go landings on the flight deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) for deck landing qualifications Dec. 6, 2006. Wasp is in transit to Norfolk, Va., after visiting Philadelphia, Pa., for the Army-Navy football game. The helicopters are from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 and 263. U.S. Navy photo by MCS 3rd Class Sarah West| Hi-Res Photo | 

U.S. Air Force Maj. Jason Costello, right, an F-15 East Demonstration team pilot, and Maj. Paul Moga, the new F-22 Raptor East Coast Demonstration team pilot share words before the F-15 Eagle/F-22 Raptor Passing of the Torch Ceremony at Langley Air Force Base, Va., Dec. 1, 2006. The ceremony showcased the end of an era for the F-15 East Coast Demo Team and the beginning of the F-22 Raptor leading the way in aerial fighter demonstration. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Rogers | Hi-Res Photo | 

Maj. Sean Godfrey ensures his oxygen mask is in proper working order prior to departure on an E-8C Joint STARS mission. The flight over Iraq marked 20,000 flying hours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom by the Boeing 707 equipped with the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System
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