During a ceremony at Scott AFB, Ill., Lt. Gen. Carlton Everhart assumed command of 18th Air Force. Everhart filled the leadership vacancy created when Gen. Darren McDew, who had led the numbered air force since August 2012, left in April for his new assignment as head of Air Mobility Command. McDew presided over the June 20 assumption-of-command ceremony. Everhart received his third star just before assuming 18th AF’s helm. He comes to 18th AF from 3rd AF at Ramstein AB, Germany. He spent the past 26 months there, first as 3rd AF’s vice commander and since February, as its commander. Eighteenth Air Force is AMC’s sole warfighting numbered air force.?
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.
