The Senate on June 23 confirmed Lt. Gen. John Hesterman to be assistant vice chief of staff and director of the Air Staff. Hesterman has served as Air Forces Central Command boss since July 2013. A 1983 Air Force Academy graduate, Hesterman has served as an instructor pilot in the F-16C, F-117A, F-15A, and the T-38C. (For more coverage of Hesterman, see US Official: Air Strikes in Iraq, Syria are Effective, and No Micromanagement of Iraq Campaign, Air Boss Says.)
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
