That reportedly is the sentiment being expressed by Bay County officials in Florida who want the Air Force to consider Tyndall Air Force Base as a potential alternative site to Eglin Air Force Base for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter international and joint schoolhouse. Officials in Valparaiso are pursuing a second lawsuit that would prohibit the Air Force from fulfilling its JSF schoolhouse plans for Eglin, reports the Northwest Florida Daily News. A concerted effort by Eglin-area supporters of the JSF plan apparently failed to sway Valparaiso city officials. Now, however, Bay County commissioners have sent a letter to the Air Force suggesting Tyndall would be ideal considering it already hosts F-22 advance flying training and will give up its F-15 advanced flying training role in the near future.
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