President Obama has tapped Lt. Gen. John Thompson to lead the Space and Missile Systems at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., and Maj. Gen. Robert McMurry for his third star and assignment as commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, according to a Sept. 23 release. If confirmed, McMurry, who currently commands the Air Force Research Laboratory, would replace Thompson, who has led AFLCMC since October 2014. Thompson would replace Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, who has led SMC since October 2014. The Air Force has not yet announced a new assignment for Greaves.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.