Newly promoted Maj. Gen. Bob LaBrutta took command of the 2nd Air Force at Keesler AFB, Miss., on Aug. 26. LaBrutta, who previously commanded the 502nd Air Base Wing and JB San Antonio, replaced Maj. Gen. Mark Brown, who will serve as Air Education and Training Command’s vice commander, according to an AETC release. In his role, LaBrutta will oversee basic, initial skills, and advanced technical training for enlisted airmen and support officers. “Together we’ll continue to provide unrivaled training and development through inspirational leadership to the trainees, Airmen, joint and coalition partners who power the world’s greatest Air Force,” he said, according to the release. LaBrutta, who went through Keesler’s technical school at the beginning of his career, described taking command as “a bit surreal.”
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.