Congressional delegations and state officials in Louisiana and Nebraska continue to negotiate with the Air Force to secure the new Cyber Command. And, according to a recent report in the Shreveport Times, the list of interested communities could grow. Louisiana officials already have lined up around $100 million to support their pitch. Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, the Air Force’s point man for the new Cyber Command and head of 8th Air Force headquartered at Barksdale AFB, La., told defense reporters June 13 that he expects final details to be worked out late this summer. Sen. Mary Landieu (D-La.), Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), and Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.) met with senior Air Force leaders last month to press the case for leaving the new command at Barksdale. In a statement, Landieu said USAF planned to reveal the location this month. The service expects to formally activate Cyber Command in October 2009.
In a nighttime ceremony contrived to continue concealment of many of its features, the new B-21 bomber rolled out of Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, Calif. plant Dec. 2. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the aircraft's advanced technology represents "deterrence, the American way."