President Barack Obama has nominated Maj. Gen. John Thompson for a third star and for assignment as commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, according to a Defense Department release. Thompson has served as the Air Force’s program executive officer for tankers since January 2013. If confirmed, he will replace Lt. Gen. C.D. Moore, who has led AFLCMC since July 2012.
The Air Force plans to add external weapons pylons on the B-1B bomber, both to increase the number of aircraft that can test hypersonic missiles and expand the Lancer’s loadout as USAF transitions to the B-21 bomber.