When asked Friday afternoon (see above) why the Administration had nominated Navy Adm. William Fallon as the replacement (and first Navy commander) for US Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the choice was not hard at all considering Fallon is one of the “best strategic thinkers in the military.” Gates added that in his job as head of US Pacific Command, Fallon was engaged in a large amount of diplomacy around the Pacific Rim—skills that will be utilized heavily in CENTCOM’s area of responsibility. Fallon faces Senators this week for his confirmation hearing. (By the way, rumor now has it that there really wasn’t much of a push from the Air Force to secure the PACOM slot.)
The Air Force is placing Air Combat Command in charge of teaching combat tactics to fighter and remotely-piloted aircraft units, according to a May 12 announcement. Beginning this summer, the service will reassign the formal training units for the F-35, F-16, and MQ-9 from Air Education and Training Command to…