Lt. Gen. William Shelton‘s nomination to receive a fourth star and take the helm of Air Force Space Command at Peterson AFB, Colo., has received the Senate’s approval, USAF officials announced Thursday. He’ll replace Gen. Robert Kehler, who’s been tapped to head US Strategic Command at Offutt AFB, Neb. Shelton has been assistant vice chief of staff since July 2009. President Obama nominated him to command AFPSC in September. The Senate has also confirmed the nomination of Lt. Gen. Richard Newton to remain at his three-star rank to be the new assistant vice chief. Newton has been in charge of manpower and personnel issues on the Air Staff since January 2008. Filling that Air Staff void will be Maj. Gen. Darrell Jones. The Senate has approved his nomination for promotion to lieutenant general for this new assignment. Jones has led the Air Force District of Washington at Andrews AFB, Md., since last November.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
