The Senate Armed Services Committee plans next week to take up the nomination of Lt. Gen. William T. Hobbins to be the new head of US Air Forces in Europe, according to a committee spokesman. Hobbins’ nomination has been on the committee’s to do list since July 29, just before Congress took its August recess. If confirmed, Hobbins will replace Gen. Robert H. “Doc” Foglesong, who plans to retire. Hobbins has been serving as chief of warfighting integration since August 2003. Before that, he commanded 12th Air Force and served as a component commander to US Strategic Command.
On Jan. 4, a dozen U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors departed Puerto Rico, where they had landed following their participation in Operation Absolute Resolve. Those fighters appeared to have flown directly from their home base at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., to participate in the operation and returned there two days…
