Lt. Gen. William Shelton has been nominated by President Obama to receive a fourth star and take command of Air Force Space Command at Peterson AFB, Colo. Shelton has been assistant vice chief of staff and director of the Air Staff since July 2009. If the Senate gives the nod to his nomination, he will replace Gen. Robert Kehler, who has been tapped to lead US Strategic Command at Offutt AFB, Neb. Shelton has extensive background in space, leading, for example 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., from May 2005 to December 2008. Nominated to be the next assistant vice chief of staff is Lt. Gen. Richard Newton. Serving as deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel since January 2008, Newton also has more than 2,900 flying hours in bombers and trainer aircraft.
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.