Gen. Gene Renuart, head of NORAD/US Northern Command, took his “fini” flight last week, piloting a C-130 from Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson AFB, Colo. Renuart is retiring in July. Of his last military flight, Renuart said: “Good mission, great crew. … It’s good to have the chance to fly my last mission in a tactical aircraft.” Although a veteran fighter pilot, since taking command at NORAD/NORTHCOM in March 2007, he has flown with the 302nd’s 731st Airlift Squadron, which has an aerial fire-fighting mission. Lt. Col. David Condit, navigator on Renuart’s final flight, noted that Renuart “has full tactical qualifications” in the C-130 and added, “He is the most highly qualified flying general in the Air Force right now with four stars.” The Senate on May 7 confirmed Vice Adm. James Winnefeld, nominated in December to replace Renuart. (NORAD/NORTHCOM report by SSgt. Thomas Doscher)
If the Air Force is in line for a big budget bump from President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, the head of Air Combat Command said he would make aircraft spare parts his top spending priority—but cautioned that more money to buy parts won’t equal a…
