Gen. Herbert Carlisle took 
command of Pacific Air Forces during a ceremony at JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. During the Aug. 3 change of command, Carlisle replaced Gen. Gary North, who had led PACAF since August 2009. North is retiring from the Air Force, effective Oct. 1, ending a 36-year career in uniform. Adm. Samuel Locklear, head of US Pacific Command, said at the ceremony Carlisle was well prepared to assume command. “He’s an impressive leader with a distinctive career with significant experience in this region, which is very important to me,” said Locklear, reported the Associated Press (via the Sacramento Bee). Carlisle pinned on his fourth star prior to taking command. A 1978 Air Force Academy graduate, Carlisle will oversee some 45,000 airmen stationed in places like Guam, Hawaii, Japan, and South Korea. He led 13th Air Force at Pearl Harbor-Hickam from September 2009 to December 2010. From January 2011, he was in charge of operations, plans, and requirements issues on the Air Staff. (See also Carlisle Confirmed as PACAF Commander.)
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.