Lt. Gen. Gary L. North is the new commander of 9th Air Force and US Central Command Air Forces, headquartered at Shaw AFB, S.C. In a ceremony last week, North replaced Lt. Gen. Walter E. Buchanan III, who officially retires on April 1. North was the director of operations for US Pacific Command.
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.