The Air Force has decided to move Maj. Gen. William Holland from his No. 2 slot at 9th Air Force/Air Forces Central to lead the now temporarily separate 9th Air Force. In May, USAF announced plans to temporarily split 9th AF from AFCENT, sending a few folks forward to establish an AFCENT headquarters closer to the action and removed from the day-to-day management chores of running a number air force. Lt. Gen. Gary North, who has led 9th AF/AFCENT since February 2006, has been nominated now to lead Pacific Air Forces. The Senate has confirmed Maj. Gen. Gilmary Hostage III for a third star and to replace North as AFCENT commander.
The Pentagon abruptly relieved Air Force Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, and his NSA civilian deputy, Wendy Noble, on April 3.