President Obama has nominated Lt. Gen. John Hyten for assignment as 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) commander at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., announced the Pentagon on Wednesday. He has been Air Force Space Command’s vice commander at Peterson AFB, Colo., since May 2012. To succeed Hyten, Obama has tapped Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, states the March 20 release. She has led 14th AF since January 2011.
U.S. munitions have been expended at a high rate during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, prompting concerns that the Pentagon is eating into weapons stockpiles it needs to deter threats around the world. Yet the newly released $1.5 trillion defense budget request was developed before the war against Iran and…