The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is under new command. Maj. Gen. Robert McMurry replaced Maj. Gen. Thomas Masiello, who has led AFRL since July 2013, on May 13, according to a May 16 release. Before taking over the AFRL, McMurry served as the vice commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif. Masiello—a command pilot with more than 3,300 flight hours in more than 20 different aircraft—will retire in July, ending a 35-year Air Force career, according to the release. He called commanding the AFRL the highlight of his Air Force career. “I thought flying fighters was fun, but AFRL easily tops that,” said Masiello, who has flown the F-15, F-15E, F-16, and F-111, among other aircraft.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.