On Nov. 30, Gen. Paul Hester relinquished command of Pacific Air Forces to Gen. Howie Chandler. Hester is to formally retire from the Air Force after some 36 years of service on Jan. 1, 2008. Chandler is a 1974 Air Force Academy graduate and has served in a number of operations, staff, and command positions, most recently as USAF’s deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and requirements. He has flown F-15 and F-16 aircraft.
The Senate voted Nov. 10 to approve a stopgap funding bill that would reopen the federal government and keep it funded through January, a significant step toward ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history.


