President Obama has nominated Lt. Gen. John Hyten for assignment as 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) commander at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., announced the Pentagon on Wednesday. He has been Air Force Space Command’s vice commander at Peterson AFB, Colo., since May 2012. To succeed Hyten, Obama has tapped Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, states the March 20 release. She has led 14th AF since January 2011.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.