President Bush has nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith for appointment to the rank of general and assignment as commander of US Joint Forces Command, headquartered at Norfolk, Va. Smith currently serves as deputy commander for US Central Command. If confirmed by the Senate, Smith would replace Adm. Edmund Giambastiani, who is now serving as the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The JFCOM position has a NATO responsibility, as well, and NATO already has agreed to name Smith as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.
The Space Force is playing a key role in planning for “Golden Dome,” President Donald Trump’s initiative for comprehensive air and missile defense of the homeland, leaders said this week. But actually building and fielding the ambitious idea will require a major concerted effort across the Pentagon and intelligence community.