Virginia Republican Sen. John Warner, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a letter to BRAC commission chairman Anthony Principi, blasted the commission on its decision to consider bringing back to life Cecil Field in Florida, as a replacement for Virginia’s NAS Oceana, which the Pentagon has proposed to close. Warner said such a move would be illegal. The Navy closed Cecil in 1999, sending most of its aircraft to Oceana.
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.