On Nov. 30, Gen. Paul Hester relinquished command of Pacific Air Forces to Gen. Howie Chandler. Hester is to formally retire from the Air Force after some 36 years of service on Jan. 1, 2008. Chandler is a 1974 Air Force Academy graduate and has served in a number of operations, staff, and command positions, most recently as USAF’s deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and requirements. He has flown F-15 and F-16 aircraft.
The Air Force plans to add external weapons pylons on the B-1B bomber, both to increase the number of aircraft that can test hypersonic missiles and expand the Lancer’s loadout as USAF transitions to the B-21 bomber.