Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast has been nominated to be the next commander of Air Education and Training Command at JBSA-Randolph, Texas. If confirmed, he will replace Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson who has led the command since July 2015. An AETC spokesman said it’s not yet clear if Roberson will retire or if he is moving on to another assignment. Kwast currently serves as commander and president of Air University at Maxwell AFB, Ala., a position he has held since November 2014. He previously led the Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education at Air University and was director of the Air Force Quadrennial Defense Review. Maj. Gen. Giovanni Tuck also was nominated for a third star and assignment as commander of 18th Air Force at Scott AFB, Ill. If confirmed, Tuck, who currently serves as director of operations and plans at US Transportation Command, will replace Lt. Gen. Samuel Cox, who has led the numbered Air Force since October 2015. Eighteenth Air Force is responsible for tasking and executing all air mobility missions. It consists of the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, two expeditionary mobility task forces, 13 wings, and one stand-alone group, according to its website.
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.