USAF Gen. Bruce Carlson took command of Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, on Friday. He replaces Gen. Gregory S. Martin, who retired after 35 years of service. Carlson had most recently served as commander of 8th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, La.
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.