President Obama on Thursday nominated Maj. Gen. David Goldfein for promotion to the grade of lieutenant general as he moves to his new assignment as Air Forces Central commander. Goldfein has been Air Combat Command’s director of operations since August 2009. In his new role, he will oversee air operations in Southwest Asia, including Afghanistan. Goldfein will replace Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage at AFCENT’s helm. Like Goldfein, Hostage has been in his current position since August 2009. (DOD release)
The U.S., South Korea, and Japan flew an unusual trilateral flight with two U.S. B-52H Stratofortress bombers escorted by two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s, and two ROK Air Force KF-16 fighters—both countries’ respective variants of the F-16—July 11. That same weekend, the top military officers of the three nations…