Lt. Gen. William Etter assumed command of the Continental US NORAD Region-1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern) during a ceremony at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Etter, an Air National Guardsman, took the reins from Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke during the March 7 change-of-command ceremony, according to Tyndall’s March 8 release. “I am looking forward to working with all of you,” said Etter to the team of Active Duty airmen, Air Guardsman, Air Force Reservists, interagency personnel, and Canadian military members who staff the two organizations. Etter previously served as the assistant to the Joint Chiefs Chairman for National Guard matters. “Lieutenant General Etter arrives at this command with a robust level of experience and he gets things done,” said Clarke in praising his successor. “I can’t think of a better officer to replace me here at CONR-1st Air Force.” Clark, who led the two organizations since Aug. 2011, is moving on to become the Air National Guard director. He’s scheduled to take command on March 22, according to the Air Guard’s website. Army Gen. Charles Jacoby, NORAD commander and US Northern Command boss, officiated the Tyndall ceremony.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.