Gen.
William Looney yesterday stepped down as commander of Air Education and Training Command during a change of command ceremony at Randolph AFB, Tex., and retired from the Air Force after 36 years of service. Looney led AETC since June 2005. On July 1, he conducted his final flight from Randolph in the cockpit of an F-15. Succeeding Looney at AETC is Gen. Stephen Lorenz, formerly head of Air University, who received his fourth star yesterday during a separate ceremony. (Includes Randolph report by TSgt. Mike Hammond)
The emphasis on speed in the Pentagon’s newly unveiled slate of acquisition reforms may come with increased near-term cost increases, analysts say. But according to U.S. defense officials, the new weapons-buying construct provides the military with enough flexibility to prevent runaway budget overruns in major programs.


