Defense Secretary Robert Gates is recommending that Adm. Timothy Keating take over US Pacific Command and that Air Force Lt. Gen. Victor Renuart replace Keating at NORAD and US Northern Command. Keating would replace Adm. William Fallon who is under consideration for US Central Command. Renuart, who currently serves as senior military assistant to Gates, would be promoted to four stars if confirmed by the Senate for the new position.
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.