Medal of Honor Monday: Army Sgt. Joseph B. Adkison

View Online Medal of Honor Monday: Army Sgt. Joseph B. Adkison April 20, 2026 | By David Vergun Two consecutive days during World War I changed Army Sgt. Joseph B. Adkison's life forever. His actions during the first led to him receiving the Medal of Honor. Adkison was born Jan. 4, 1892, in Egypt, Tennessee, to Joseph F. Adkison and Adeline Delashmit. His father died when he was just 7. He grew up with three siblings in Atoka, Tennessee, just north of Memphis.   He enlisted in the Tennessee Army National Guard in 1917. His unit, Company C, 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, fought in the second Battle of Lys and the second Battle of the Somme in 1918.  On Sept. 29, 1918, near Bellicourt, France, Adkison's unit became pinned down by intense German machine-gun fire.  According to his Medal of Honor citation, Adkison alone rushed across the 50 yards of open ground directly into the face of the hostile machine gun, kicked the gun from the parapet into the enemy trench and captured the three men manning the gun.   "The gallantry and quick decision of this soldier enabled the platoon to resume its advance," the citation read.   However, Adkison's fortune would soon run out. The following day, Sept. 30, he was struck by enemy artillery fire, suffering severe injuries to his right arm and leg. The wounds ended his military service, and he was medically discharged.  In March 1919, he was invited to the White House to receive the Medal of Honor from President Woodrow Wilson. Adkison declined due to his severe injuries. Instead, an Army officer was sent to the farm he lived on in Tipton County, Tennessee, to make the presentation on behalf of the president.  Adkison received the medal, surrounded by family and friends, at the Atoka Presbyterian Church. He was the first man from Tennessee to receive the Medal of Honor during the war. Adkison's injuries affected him for the remainder of his life. He endured repeated hospitalizations and chronic complications, which worsened after he was struck by an automobile in 1937. Despite the public recognition of his heroism, much of his postwar life was spent managing his poor health caused by his wartime injuries.  Family records indicate Adkison was a very quiet man who shunned publicity and was known affectionately as Bernard, his middle name, by family and friends.   He died May 23, 1965, in his hometown. His legacy lives on there, as his medal is on display at the Tipton County Museum, and a park in Atoka is named for him.  This article is part of a weekly series called "Medal of Honor Monday," in which we highlight one of the more than 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients who have received the U.S. military's highest medal for valor.  Spotlight: Medal of Honor   Experience: The Highest Awards for Valor

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On-Camera Press Briefing on the Department's FY27 Budget Request

View Online IMMEDIATE RELEASE On-Camera Press Briefing on the Department's FY27 Budget Request April 20, 2026 Hon. Jules "Jay" W. Hurst III, performing the duties of Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) and Lt. Gen. Steven P. Whitney, Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment (J-8) will conduct an on-camera press briefing to discuss the Department of War's FY27 Budget Request tomorrow, April 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. EDT, in the Pentagon Briefing Room.  Following Mr. Hurst and Lt. Gen Whitney's briefing, the Services will conduct separate budget briefings.   At 11:00 a.m. EDT, Rear Adm. Ben Reynolds, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Budget/Director, Fiscal Management Division, N82, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations will conduct a briefing on the Navy's FY27 budget request in the Pentagon Briefing Room.  At 12:00 p.m. EDT, Maj. Gen. Frank R. Verdugo, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller will conduct a briefing on the Air Force's FY27 budget request in the Pentagon Briefing Room. At 2:00 p.m. EDT, MG Rebecca McElwain, Director of the Army Budget; Ms. Kirsten Taylor, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Plans, Programs and Resources; Dr. Robert Steinrauf, Director, Plans and Resources DCS G-1; BG David Zinn, Acting Assistant DCS G 3/5/7; and MG Thomas O'Connor, Director, Capabilities Directorate will conduct a briefing on the Army's FY27 budget request in the Pentagon Briefing Room. There will be 60 chairs for reporters in the briefing room; to maximize availability, each news organization is restricted to one reporter in the briefing room. The briefing will be livestreamed on Zoom, war.gov, DVIDS, and will also air on Channel 2 in the Pentagon. Zoom links and dial in information for each briefing will be provided in a follow-up email. Wi-Fi will be available in the Press Briefing Room. A screen in the foyer in the 2D972 entrance will have the password. RSVP Instructions: If you want to attend the briefings in person, please RSVP no later than 4:00 p.m. EDT today, April 20, 2026, to osd.pa.dutyofficer@mail.mil and indicate in your RSVP which briefings you want to attend. If you do not have a PFAC credential, please indicate that in your RSVP email, and we will work to get you building access. Please email the OSD(PA) Duty Officer at osd.pa.dutyofficer@mail.mil if you have any questions.

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Reauthorization of Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs

View Online IMMEDIATE RELEASE Reauthorization of Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs April 20, 2026 Following President Donald J. Trump signing into law the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (S. 3971), the War Department is immediately advancing with a redesigned and more focused initiative to accelerate the delivery of advanced capabilities to the warfighter. The act reauthorizes the vital Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, strengthening America's lethal Arsenal of Freedom. The reauthorization allows the Department to relaunch its SBIR/STTR enterprise with a more unified and accountable mission. This effort aligns directly with Secretary Hegseth's mandate to transform the defense innovation ecosystem by prioritizing the fielding of critical capabilities at scale. The SBIR/STTR program has been structurally redesigned to deliver across the Department's three innovation outcomes: differentiated technology, scalable products, and operational capability innovation. The Department will drive this innovation by leveraging American small businesses and academic expertise to deliver innovative technology to the warfighter and grow the defense industrial base through commercialization. The Department will continue to work in lockstep with the Small Business Administration to empower the nation's most innovative small businesses to deliver tangible capabilities to the joint force. "The reauthorization of SBIR and STTR will allow the War Department to quickly align its innovation investments directly with our most urgent warfighting needs," said Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. "We are supercharging American small businesses to become a critical part of our national defense. They will ensure our warfighters maintain a decisive battlefield advantage for years to come." The Office for Small Business Innovation has revamped its commitment to technology transition through the newly established Accelerated Research for Transition (ART) Program. ART offers multiple pathways for the Department to capitalize on SBIR/STTR innovation through additional non-dilutive capital investment to transition warfighter capabilities from development to production, operation, and sustainment. "We are laser-focused on rebuilding military lethality and reestablishing deterrence," said Joseph Jewell, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology. "The reauthorization of the SBIR and STTR programs, enhanced by our new Accelerated Research for Transition (ART) Program, is a critical engine for this effort. American small business ingenuity is essential to delivering superior technology that sharpens our warfighters' edge and reinforces their warrior spirit." For decades, the SBIR and STTR programs have been a cornerstone of defense innovation, allocating billions of dollars in research and development awards to thousands of American small business innovators. In line with this relaunch, War Department SBIR/STTR investments will map directly to the Department's newly designated critical technology areas. "Reauthorization of the SBIR/STTR program ensures we can continue delivering critical technologies to the warfighter, responsibly invest taxpayer dollars, and empower U.S. small businesses to drive innovation that strengthens our national security," said Gina Sims, Director of the Department of War Office for Small Business Innovation. Immediately after reauthorization, the Department issued multiple SBIR/STTR solicitations, including over 90 topics seeking innovative capabilities from industry. Small businesses are encouraged to visit the Department of War SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP) for details on open solicitations and proposal timelines.

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Air Force, Army, Marines Unite for Joint Air Traffic Control Training

View Online Air Force, Army, Marines Unite for Joint Air Traffic Control Training April 17, 2026 |  By Lauren Boggs, 78th Air Base Wing Airmen, soldiers and Marines completed two weeks of airfield training at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, learning valuable skills while highlighting the power of military interoperability.   The joint training brought together the Air Force's 53rd Combat Airfield Operations Squadron, the Marine Corps' Air Control Squadron 2 and the Army's Air Traffic Services Command.    The training, led by the Air Traffic Services Command's quality assurance division, centered on the Air Force's new, deployable, airport surveillance radar and precision approach radar system, also known as an air traffic navigation, integration and coordination system. Service members were trained in setting up the system's version 10 radar, operations shelter and lighting systems used to create runways in austere and deployed environments. The air traffic controllers also took turns practicing precision approaches and landings.    "It's a unique system, so we need a unique kind of training," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Terry, 53rd CAOS combat airfield watch supervisor. "The knowledge that is able to come out and provide, in both a controlling and maintaining aspect, is really what we needed to be able to deploy the system and operate it the way that it needs to be operated."   While new to the Air Force, the system has been operated by the Army for over 20 years. It's the only air traffic control system that all three branches have in common.    According to John Kelley, the quality assurance lead for the Air Traffic Services Command, the Army's experience with the system is a major perk, giving other air traffic control service members the opportunity to learn from years of practical application.    The quality assurance division, made up of six air traffic controllers and five maintainers, regularly visits various military bases to train their counterparts, reviews and verifies technical orders and offers courtesy inspections. "We're here to teach them everything that we know on how to troubleshoot and maintain the system, how to set it up and actively use it right away and give them ideas of how they would implement it in a real-world environment," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Wigetes Ho, an air traffic controller maintenance evaluator assigned to the Air Traffic Services Command.    "On the air traffic control side, our role is to sit inside the shelter with their air traffic controllers and assist them in learning how to do precision approaches and the phraseology, terminology and theory behind them to get them to the point where they're actually employing it themselves, can get their certification and safely land aircraft," Kelley said. "The goal is to get them where they're self-sufficient."    Beyond the technical skills, the training fostered crucial inter-branch relationships in a relatively small career field. "Another big purpose of this training was to build rapport between branches," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Bernard Green, quality assurance division evaluator and noncommissioned officer in charge. "We don't work with the Air Force or Marines a lot, especially for air traffic controllers. Building that rapport between branches and learning from each other and having connections that you can reach out to in another branch and ask for help, while it may not have been the main goal of this training, it was a positive outcome."    The connections create even stronger interoperability in deployed environments, allowing air traffic control service members to operate the system together, if required.    "It just ties the whole picture together when it comes to airfield operations between the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps," Terry said.

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#CannesLions2026 awarding juries feature 12 South Africans

iME appoints Carol Tshabalala as CEO, Africa

Biz Daily Mon 20 April 2026 ALL INDUSTRIES  | COMPANIES  | JOBS  | EVENTS  | SUBMIT NEWS  | ADVERTISE  | FOLLOW  | MY ACCOUNT  | SUBSCRIBE  |  UNSUBSCRIBE #CannesLions2026 awarding juries feature 12 South Africans Twelve South Africans have been named to the Cannes Lions awarding juries... Read more Thousands of grants suspended after Sassa review process in Limpopo THEMBI SIAGA Sassa says no grant has been incorrectly stopped, but beneficiaries are battling... read iME appoints Carol Tshabalala as CEO, Africa In her new role, Tshabalala will lead iME’s Africa growth strategy, with responsibility for market development... read Retail 'Super natural' Onix citrus now available exclusively at Checkers The distinctive 'black-skinned' blood orange is known for its deep ruby interior, natural striping and a flavour profile that balances sweetness with acidity... Read Construction & Engineering South Africa’s rail system moves toward open access model Transnet is opening its rail network to private operators, aiming to boost efficiency, expand capacity, and revitalise South Africa’s freight logistics system... Read Energy & Mining Update: Eskom says all unions onboard with 7% wage increase The power utility said it concluded a three-year wage agreement following a Central Bargaining Forum (CBF) process... Read Healthcare Biovac's €75m cash injection to boost vaccine production and create jobs This expansion will create over 340 skilled jobs and 7,000 indirect jobs, fostering technology transfer... Read Legal New eviction bill aims to protect small landlords, empower municipalities The proposed amendments to South Africa’s eviction laws are set to offer stronger protection for ordinary landlords renting out backyard rooms and small properties, while giving municipalities greater authority to respond to unlawful land occupations... Read Property Two-speed property market emerges across South Africa What R6.59m buys in Bryanston - And why R9,300-a-month units are surging in demand... Read Tourism, Travel & Hospitality WTM report flags digital, sustainability gaps in Africa’s tourism growth Africa’s tourism sector is growing rapidly, but a new WTM Africa report highlights widening gaps in digital readiness, sustainability compliance and regional aviation recovery... Read Featured Press Office of the day More   |   Join Ignition Group Ignition Group is a global technology company with operations in Africa, the USA and the UK. By leveraging the power of technology, data and people, Ignition is able to provide clients in diverse sectors with exceptional business services. Within the Ignition ecosystem are business units in the telecommunications, customer experience, financial services, banking, ecommerce, platforms and products sectors, all operating with synergy to open up the digital economy to everyone. Contact  |  News  |  VISIT PRESS OFFICE  |  Linkedin  |  Facebook Jobs offered Social Media Manager - Cape Town   Junior Art Director - Cape Town   Graduate - Actuarial Pricing Analyst - Western Cape   Software Developer - C# - Durban - Durban   Senior Business Intelligence Developer - Cape Town   Account Director - Cape Town   Dotsure Motor Dealer Rep - Gauteng   Credit Risk Analyst - Cape Town   Group Account Director - Cape Town   Bordereaux Bookkeeper - Cape Town   More jobs Submit a job Customise jobs FOLLOW US List company List CV List new business List portfolio showcase List profile Submit event Submit gallery Submit job ad Submit new appointment Submit news Submit noticeboard Submit op-ed contribution Home My job ads My events My company My CV Advertising: We welcome your sales enquiries! Email sales and read more about our advertising rates 3rd Floor, 62 Roeland St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa. Tel +27 (0)21 404 1460 © 2026 bizcommunity.com. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe. Manage subscription. Subscribe. Change email.