Lt. Gen. Stephen Hoog replaced Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins as the US military’s senior leader in Alaska. “Here is an impressive leader with a distinctive career, uniquely well suited to assume this strategically important post and manage the multi-faceted nature of this assignment,” said Adm. Robert Willard, US Pacific Command commander, of Hoog during the Nov. 7 change-of-command ceremony at JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. “To the men and women who make up this team serving in the last frontier, my pledge is simple: Together, we’ll accomplish the mission our nation requires, while focusing on our greatest asset, our people,” said Hoog, who previously led 9th Air Force at Shaw AFB, S.C. In his new role, Hoog also oversees 11th Air Force, NORAD’s Alaska region, and Joint Task Force-Alaska. Atkins, who led Alaska Command since May 2008, is retiring, effective Jan. 1, ending a 33-year Air Force career. (Elmendorf-Richardson report by SrA. Cynthia Spalding)
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
