Air Force Secretary Michael Donley on Thursday announced that Brig. Gen. James Kowalski would be the commander of the provisional Air Force Global Strike Command. Kowalski currently is the Joint Staff’s deputy director for Global Operations. The Air Force plans to install a three-star general officer as AFGSC commander once it forms the permanent command. Donley said in the announcement that the service plans on Jan. 12 to stand up the provisional headquarters at Bolling AFB, D.C., and detachments at Air Combat Command and Air Force Space Command. ACC’s 8th Air Force, home to USAF’s nuclear-capable bomber force, and AFSPC’s 20th Air Force, overseer of the ICBM force, will become part of AFGSC under the nuclear roadmap released in October. Donley said creation of AFGSC “represents a crucial commitment to our responsibility for day to day excellence and unquestionable stewardship of the nuclear and strategic deterrence missions.” Kowalski will oversee standup of the permanent command, including work toward identification of a permanent headquarters location and manpower requirements. Lest there be any doubt, the Air Force announcement noted that Bolling “will not be the final location” for the new headquarters. At least two states have approached the Air Force about hosting the new major command. (AFNS report)
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.