The Senate has confirmed the two Air Force lieutenant generals who will each receive a fourth star when they take the helms of Pacific Air Forces and Air Mobility Command—Lt. Gen. Gary North and Lt. Gen. Raymond Johns Jr., respectively. The Obama Administration formally nominated both officers for their new posts on July 8 (our earlier coverage on North and on Johns). North has served as commander of 9th Air Force/Air Forces Central since February 2006. Johns has served as the Air Staff’s deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs since October 2006.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.