Maj. Gen. James A. Hawkins formally assumed command of the 18th Air Force at Scott AFB, Ill. on Nov. 29, taking over from Lt. Gen. William Welser III, who retired Dec. 1. (We reported on the proposed change earlier.) Hawkins has been director of operations at Air Mobility Command. In his new role, as commander of AMC’s sole numbered air force, he oversees 12 wings, three groups, two expeditionary mobility task forces, and the Tanker Airlift Control Center.
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.