The Air National Guard on Nov. 1 will transfer command of 1st Air Force, based at Tyndall AFB, Fla., from Maj. Gen. Scott Mayes to Maj. Gen. Henry Morrow. Mayes, who plans to retire on Nov. 1, has commanded the unit charged with air defense of the continental US since October 2004. Morrow last served as National Guard assistant to Adm. Timothy Keating, commander of NORAD and US Northern Command.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.