Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Philip Breedlove has been tapped to take command of US Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein AB, Germany, announced the Pentagon May 11. Breedlove, in his current job since January 2011, would replace Gen. Mark Welsh at USAFE’s helm. President Obama has nominated Welsh to be the next Air Force Chief of Staff. To fill the vice chief slot, the Air Force eyes Lt. Gen. Larry Spencer, whom Obama has nominated for promotion to the rank of general. Spencer has been the Joint Staff’s director of force structure, resources, and assessment since August 2010. Obama also nominated Maj. Gen. Noel Jones for a third star for assignment as USAFE’s vice commander. Jones is currently serving as director of operational capability requirements on the Air Staff.
Members of Congress from both parties expressed frustration and dismay over the abrupt and still-unexplained firing last month of Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh from his dual role as head of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency.