Air Force Special Operations Command boss Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold was nominated to be inducted into the Order of the Sword—the highest honor awarded by the enlisted force—April 29. Heithold called the day the proudest of his career in a May 2 release. During the nomination ceremony, a crowd of airmen presented Heithold with an engraved invitation to the induction ceremony, which is scheduled for Nov. 18 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., according to the release. He will become the command’s 10th inductee to the order. Heithold, who has served as AFSOC commander since July 2014, has been confirmed by the Senate to serve as principal deputy director of cost assessment and program evaluation in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon and is scheduled to move in June.
The U.S. is moving to surge firepower over Iran, including its capital of Tehran, defense officials leading the campaign said March 5 at U.S. Central Command headquarters. Bomber strikes are being stepped up and additional fighter squadrons are being deployed.