Scott Large is stepping down as director of the National Reconnaissance Office, effective April 18, Reuters news wire service reported Thursday. According to Reuters, Large sent a memo to NRO employees on Wednesday announcing his decision, but without citing a specific reason for his departure. Large became the 16th NRO director in October 2007. His announcement came just on the heels of the Obama Administration approving a plan to procure new spy satellites (see above).
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.