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. munitions have been expended at a high rate during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, prompting concerns that the Pentagon is eating into weapons stockpiles it needs to deter threats around the world. Yet the newly released $1.5 trillion defense budget request was developed before the war against Iran and…