On Nov. 30, Gen. Paul Hester relinquished command of Pacific Air Forces to Gen. Howie Chandler. Hester is to formally retire from the Air Force after some 36 years of service on Jan. 1, 2008. Chandler is a 1974 Air Force Academy graduate and has served in a number of operations, staff, and command positions, most recently as USAF’s deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and requirements. He has flown F-15 and F-16 aircraft.
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.
