Maj. Gen. Roger Burg, commander of 20th Air Force, which oversees USAF’s ICBM forces, on Wednesday removed Col. Christopher Ayres from his post as commander of the 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, N.D. Ayres was relieved “due to loss of confidence in his ability to command,” according to a release from Air Force Space Command headquarters. He was not relieved for any alleged misconduct or wrongdoing, but recent incidents, including an Aug. 31 accident involving a vehicle transporting Minuteman III ICBM components, contributed to the loss of confidence, AFSPC said. Ayres took command of the wing in May 2008. “We must have complete confidence in our leadership as we continue the revitalization of the nuclear enterprise,” said AFSPC boss Gen. Robert Kehler, who approved of the decision.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
