Air Force officials turned up at the Lockheed Martin plant in Marietta, Ga., last week to cast their eyes on the tail section—with the Alaska tail code—of the first F-22 Raptor bound for Pacific Air Forces. This Raptor will join 35 others destined for Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, beginning next year. Elmendorf will establish two active-duty F-22 squadrons and one Air Force Reserve Command associate squadron.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3