Gen. Frank Gorenc, head of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa and Allied Air Command, will retire in July after 37 years of commissioned service, Air Force officials said. A successor will be named soon. Gorenc has held the USAFE/AFAFRICA job since August 2013, and has led the command during Russia’s invasion of Crimea and Ukraine, overseeing deployments of US Air Force assets to Europe—including the first deployment of F-22s to the continent—partnership activities with NATO and other air forces, and shifts of USAF European posture to deter Russia from further adventurism. Prior to becoming head of USAFE/AFAFRICA, he was head of the Air Staff at Headquarters, US Air Force in Washington, D.C., and served previously as head of 3rd Air Force, the principal element of USAFE.
When Lt. Col. Dustin Johnson was ordered to deploy to the Middle East last year, he and his fellow F-22 Raptor pilots prepared for an unusual challenge. As America’s premier air superiority fighter, the F-22 was designed to take on advanced enemy aircraft, capable of maneuvering stealthily and cruising at supersonic…