Gen. Paul Hester announced his retirement Friday, coincident with the Pentagon announcement that President Bush plans to nominate Lt. Gen. Howie Chandler to receive a fourth star and head Pacific Air Forces. Hester, who has commanded PACAF since July 2004, plans to formally retire on Jan. 1, 2008, but he expects to relinquish command sometime in November. Chandler, who currently serves as deputy chief of staff for air and space operations on the Air Staff, must obtain Senate confirmation for the PACAF post.
A legislative standoff has led to a lapse in a $4.26 billion small business innovation contracting program widely used by the Air Force and could spell the end of it entirely, industry sources warned Air & Space Forces Magazine.


