Maj. Gen. William McCasland is now in charge of the Air Force Research Lab after a change-of-command ceremony at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. McCasland succeeds Maj. Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, who is moving on to her next assignment as commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif. The Senate has confirmed Pawlikowski’s nomination to receive a third star. She led AFRL since February 2010. McCasland’s prior assignment was as director of special programs in the Pentagon’s acquisition office, a position he held since June 2009. The change of command took place on May 13. (Wright-Patterson release)
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.
