Lt. Gen. Raymond Johns, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs on the Air Staff since October 2006, has been nominated for promotion to the rank of general for a yet-to-be-announced position. While there has been no public Air Force or Defense Department release on the nomination, Johns’ name appears on the Senate’s June 4 nominee list for appointment to four-star level. The rumor mill has it that Johns would take over Air Mobility Command from Gen. Arthur Lichte, who has led that organization since September 2007.
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.