CMSAF James Roy is scheduled to travel to Honolulu Aug. 26 to award the Order of the Sword to Gen. Gary North, commander of Pacific Air Forces. The Order of the Sword is presented by the Air Force’s noncommissioned officers to officers “who have made significant contributions to the enlisted corps.” The last PACAF commander to receive this honor was Gen. William Begert in 2004. Gen. Paul Hester, who commanded PACAF from 2004 to 2006, also received the award in 2004, but for his previous work as commander of Air Force Special Operations Command. The Order of the Sword is said to have been patterned after British and Swedish military orders in the Middle Ages. It was instituted by Air Force NCOs in 1967.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3