Gen. David Goldfein officially became the 38th Air Force vice chief of staff Aug. 6 during a ceremony at JB Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Goldfein previously served as director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, and was also promoted to four-star rank at the ceremony. “It’s not about what we do, but who we are,” he said, according to an Air Force news release. “My promise to you, with this fourth star, is that I will do my best to be a better man, husband, father, and a better officer for the Air Force.” Goldfein took over the role as the service’s No. 2 uniformed officer from Gen. Larry Spencer, who retired last week after serving as vice chief since July 2012. “God placed me in the Air Force and took me from airman basic to a four-star general, which must be classified as a miracle,” Spencer said, according to an Air Force news release. Spencer, who served nearly 44 years in the Air Force, is now moving into his new role as the incomin?g pre?sident of the Air Force Association.
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.
