Air Force Gen. Lance Smith, commander of US Joint Forces Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation wants to retire come January, after serving some 37 years in the Air Force. NATO, in an Aug. 27 statement concurred, saying he had completed his term in the position. Now, it falls upon President Bush to nominate another US flag officer to take Smith’s place.
The Air Force budget would grow to $234 billion while Space Force spending would shrink to $26 billion under the White House's yearly ask.