Lt. Gen. Glenn Spears, currently the deputy commander of US Southern Command, has been nominated to take over 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), replacing Lt Gen. Norman Seip, the Air Force announced yesterday. Seip, who has lead AFSOUTH since July 2006, is retiring later this year. Spears, a 31-year airman, has been the No. 2 at SOUTHCOM since June 2006.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.