Gen. Lori Robinson assumed command of Pacific Air Forces from Gen. Hawk Carlisle during a ceremony at JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, becoming the first woman to lead an Air Force component major command, according to an Oct. 16 release. “Gen. Lori Robinson is a phenomenal leader and a proven operator,” said Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, who presided over the change of command. “She fully understands what it takes to be successful in this business and has all the tools to take this command to even higher levels of performance.” During the ceremony, Carlisle credited airmen for the command’s success. “The security and stability of the Indo-Asia-Pacific rests squarely on their shoulders, and I can’t think of better shoulders for them to rest on,” said Carlisle, who will now take charge of Air Combat Command.
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.