President Obama yesterday formally nominated Lt. Gen. Raymond Johns for a fourth star to be the next commander of Air Mobility Command, replacing Gen. Arthur Lichte, who is expected to retire. Johns has been serving as deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs on the Air Staff since October 2006. Back in early June, Johns’ name appeared on the Senate’s list of nominations for promotion to the grade of general, but no new assignment was given then so this new announcement clears up that ambiguity.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.