Space Command Lives: “Lots of rumors” that Air Force Space Command will be downgraded to less than a major command and headed by a three-star general are untrue, according to its acting chief, Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz. He assured reporters during media roundtable Thursday that USAF’s top leadership recognizes AFSPC’s value in “enabling sea, air, and ground forces” to perform their missions, and that the command will remain a major command. Gen. Lance Lord stepped down as Space Command chief at the beginning of March, and the lack of an announced replacement fueled rumors of a command shakeup. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), co-chair of the Congressional Space Caucus, upon hearing the rumors, wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld promising to fight any downgrade in AFSPC’s status.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
