The Air Force announced Wednesday 
that Lackland AFB, Tex., will be the permanent headquarters location for 24th Air Force, the new numbered air force being established under Air Force Space Command to lead the service’s cyber operations. USAF identified Lackland as its preferred headquarters location in May, but by US law, could not make a final determination until it had concluded an analysis of the environmental impact. That analysis, said Kathleen Ferguson, the Air Force’s installation czar, “determined a finding of no significant impact.” Maj. Gen. Richard Webber will assume command of 24th AF later this month. “The standup of this NAF will provide clear lines of authority and responsibility dedicated to cyber operations,” he said.
Pentagon officials overseeing homeland counter-drone strategy told lawmakers that even with preliminary moves to bolster U.S. base defenses, the military still lacks the capability to comprehensively identify, track, and engage hostile drones like those that breached the airspace of Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for 17 days in December…