President Obama nominated Maj. Gen. Samuel Cox for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general to join the Air Staff as deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel, and services, announced the Pentagon on Monday. Cox, who has been US Transportation Command’s director of operations and plans since June 2012, would replace Lt. Gen. Darrell Jones, who has held the position since December 2010. The nomination requires the Senate’s confirmation.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
