President Obama nominated Maj. Gen. Sam Angelella to receive a third star for his new assignment as commander of US Forces Japan and commander of 5th Air Force at Yokota AB, Japan, announced the Defense Department on Monday. Angelella has been serving since November 2010 as the Joint Staff’s vice director for strategic plans and policy. He’ll replace Lt. Gen. Burton Field, who’s led those organizations since October 2010. The Air Force leadership has tapped Field to be the next deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and requirements on the Air Staff. Field will succeed Lt. Gen. Hawk Carlisle, who’s held that position since January 2011.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.