President-elect Donald Trump formally announced Monday that he will nominate retired Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Kelly served as commander of US Southern Command for more than three years until his retirement in January. “(Kelly) is the right person to spearhead the urgent mission of stopping illegal immigration and securing our borders, streamlining TSA, and improving coordination between our intelligence and law enforcement agencies,” Trump said in a statement announcing the appointment. If confirmed, he would serve as the fifth Secretary of Homeland Security, a cabinet position created by President George W. Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He would be the first retired general to serve in that post. Kelly is also the third former general to be chosen by Trump for a senior position in his administration. Retired Marine Corps Gen. and US Central Command chief James Mattis is Trump’s selection for Secretary of Defense, and retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who served as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, is his pick for national security advisor.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.