Lt. Gen. Tod Wolters assumed command of 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) from Lt. Gen. Robin Rand. The leadership change took place during a ceremony on Sept. 24 at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., according to a base release. Wolters previously served as the director of the Air Force’s legislative liaison office at the Pentagon. Rand, who led 12th AF since December 2011, will put on a fourth star for his next assignment leading Air Education and Training Command at JBSA-Lackland, Tex. The Senate approved Rand for the post in August. “It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside you these past 30 years,” said Air Combat Command boss Gen. Mike Hostage to Rand during the ceremony. “I’ve seen first hand how you’ve delivered in every challenge put before you. Air Education and Training Command is gaining a great leader,” said Hostage. Rand thanked 12th AF’s airmen for their hard work. “No commander could have had a better championship team than the one I just played on,” he said.
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.