President Obama has nominated Maj. Gen. Robin Rand for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general for his new assignment as commander of 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. Rand has been special assistant to the Air Force vice chief of staff since October 2010. He would fill the leadership post made vacant with the retirement of Lt. Gen. Glenn Spears, who led 12th AF since August 2009. (DOD release)
Gen. Dan Caine was confirmed as the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by the Senate early April 11, making history as the first Air National Guardsman to take on the nation's top uniformed job.