The Changing Culture of the Missileer

In early 2014, a number of U.S. Air Force officers in charge of launching the Minuteman intercontinental ballistic (ICBM) nuclear missiles failed a routine monthly proficiency test (a rare occurrence in my day). During an unrelated investigation conducted by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, it was discovered that one crewmember from Malmstrom AFB, MT had emailed test questions to other crewmembers at his base. When news of the investigation caught the attention of the national med…