Navy Adm. Timothy Keating, who relinquished command of NORAD and US Northern Command on March 23, now has assumed command of US Pacific Command, taking over from acting commander Air Force Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Leaf. “He is fully prepared to continue the record of accomplishments that the countries of this region have built together,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates said of Keating during the change of command ceremony. Keating’s new territory includes 43 countries.
The crash of a T-38 trainer jet this May—which caused a weekslong pause in flights across the fleet—was caused by an improperly installed pin for one of the jet’s horizontal stabilizers, according to a new accident report released Oct. 30. When the pin disengaged midflight, it created the slightest amount…