Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis has been approved by the Senate to lead US Central Command. Mattis will now oversee the US military’s efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, He fills the leadership void at CENTCOM left by Army Gen. David Petraeus’ departure at the end of June to take charge of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. As we reported Friday, Mattis’ nomination vote occurred on the evening of Aug. 5, prior to Congress adjourning for its August recess. Prior to this, Mattis led US Joint Forces Command for nearly three years.
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.