President Obama has selected Maj. Gen. Bradley Heithold to be vice commander of US Special Operations Command. He’s also nominated Heithold for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general. Heithold has been in charge of the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency at Lackland AFB, Tex., since February 2009. (DOD release)
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.