Lt. Gen. Norman R. Seip assumed command of 12th Air Force and Air Forces Southern Friday during a ceremony at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. Seip, who was confirmed for his new post by the Senate in May, takes over from Lt. Gen. Randall M. Schmidt, who will officially retire on Sept. 1. Seip, who last served as assistant deputy chief of staff for air, space, information operations, plans, and requirements on the Air Staff, is a 1974 Air Force Academy graduate
The emphasis on speed in the Pentagon’s newly unveiled slate of acquisition reforms may come with increased near-term cost increases, analysts say. But according to U.S. defense officials, the new weapons-buying construct provides the military with enough flexibility to prevent runaway budget overruns in major programs.

