Lt. Gen. John Raymond has been nominated to take over Air Force Space Command, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said during a Wednesday briefing before the official Pentagon announcement. If confirmed, Raymond will receive his fourth star and replace Gen. John Hyten, who is leaving the post for an unannounced position. Raymond has served as the deputy chief of staff for operations since August 2015, and has been the commander of 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) and the director of plans and policy for US Strategic Command. Hyten has overseen large-scale changes since taking command in August 2014, such as opening up National Security Space launches to private competition.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.