President Obama has nominated Marine Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser to replace Army Gen. David Rodriguez as head of US Africa Command. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Thursday congratulated Waldhauser for the nomination and his pending promotion to general. He has shown through his strong leadership, “excellent political-military experience, and superb management skills” why he is “the perfect pick” for AFRICOM, Carter said in a written statement. “I am confident that Lt. Gen. Waldhauser will bring the same caliber of strong and steady leadership to AFRICOM that Gen. David Rodriguez has brought to the command for the past three years,” he said. Waldhauser currently serves as director for joint force development for the Joint Staff.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.