Raymond Tapped to Lead 14th Air Force

Dec. 17, 2013

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

President Obama nominated Maj. Gen. John Raymond for a third star and for assignment overseeing Air Force space forces as commander of 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., announced the Defense Department. Raymond has been serving since July 2012 as US Strategic Command’s director of plans and policy at Offutt AFB, Neb. If the Senate approves the nomination, Raymond would fill the void being created by the upcoming retirement of Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, who has led 14th AF since January 2011. Raymond would also lead STRATCOM’s Joint Functional Component Command for Space, according to the Pentagon’s Dec. 13 release. In these new roles, he would oversee the thousands of airmen who operate the service’s satellites and space launch ranges and direct the joint space forces assigned and attached to STRATCOM.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Can the Latest Plan for CYBERCOM Stave Off Calls for a New Service?

Air Force’s New Fighter Math Doesn’t Add Up for Critics

Air Force Issues Guidance on Shutdown Backpay, Telework for Returning Workers

READ: Hegseth’s Speech to Generals and Admirals

Related

Trump Says US Will Sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia

Nov. 17, 2025
President Donald Trump said he plans to sell F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, announcing his decision Nov. 17, a day before he meets the country’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House.

Can the Latest Plan for CYBERCOM Stave Off Calls for a New Service?

Nov. 16, 2025
In a brief email Nov. 6, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid out a new Cyber Force Generation plan, meant to give U.S. Cyber Command more authority over the employment, training, and equipping of U.S. troops preparing for and waging cyber war. Former Air Force officers and national security officials say the…

Shutdown Had No Major Impact on Flying Hours, Exercises: Air Force

Nov. 15, 2025
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.

NATO Cancels Plan to Buy E-7 Wedgetails

Nov. 13, 2025
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgNATO is abandoning its effort to buy E-7 Wedgetails to replace its...