President Obama has tapped Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, commander of Air Force Global Strike, to serve as the deputy commander of US Strategic Command at Offutt AFB, Neb. If confirmed by the Senate, he will replace Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, who has served in the position since October 2013. Kowalski is planning to retire, according to an internal Air Force memo. The President previously nominated Air Education and Training Command boss Gen. Robin Rand for the AFGSC job, which will be elevated to a four-star billet after Wilson leaves as part of a sweeping overhaul of the Defense Department’s nuclear enterprise. Obama also nominated Maj. Gen. Arnold Bunch for a third star and for assignment as military deputy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition at the Pentagon. Bunch, who currently serves as commander of the Air Force Test Center at Edwards AFB, Calif., will replace Lt. Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, who was nominated for a fourth star and for assignment as head of Air Force Materiel Command. (Pentagon announcement)
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s last three F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft's era on the frontlines of homeland defense.
