President Obama has tapped Gen. John Hyten to lead US Strategic Command, according to a Sept. 9 Pentagon announcement. If confirmed, Hyten will replace Adm. Cecil Haney, who has led the command since November 2014. Hyten currently serves as commander of Air Force Space Command, a position he has held since August 2014. Lt. Gen. John Raymond, who currently serves as the deputy chief of staff for operations on the Air Staff, was nominated last week to replace Hyten at AFSPC.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.