Spears to Take No. 2 Spot at SOUTHCOM: Air Force Maj. Gen. Glenn F. Spears has been named to become deputy commander of US Southern Command, headquartered in Miami. Spears, who is the Air Staff’s director of force management policy, graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1978 and is a command pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours in various aircraft, including B-1B, B-52, KC-135, and MC-130H. He will replace Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard A. Mentemeyer, who plans to retire July 1.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

