Brig. Gen. Mark Brown received his second star and assumed command of 2nd Air Force during a July 3 change of command ceremony at Keesler AFB, Miss. Brown, who previously served as the comptroller at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, replaced Maj. Gen. Leonard Patrick, who has led 2nd Air Force since July 2011. Patrick has been selected for reassignment as vice commander of Headquarters Air Education and Training Command at JBSA-Randolph, Texas. The numbered Air Force “is responsible for conducting basic military and non-flying technical training for the Air Force, joint and coalition enlisted members, and support officers,” according to a June 30 release.
The U.S. military is sending more fighter jets to the Middle East to step up its war with Iran, adding to what is already the largest buildup of airpower in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. For now, the operation shows little sign of coming to a quick…