The nomination of Gen. Philip Breedlove to be NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe and head of US European Command took a step forward on Wednesday. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) interrupted Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s opening remarks at the committee’s hearing on the Defense Department’s Fiscal 2014 budget request to announce that the committee officially had a quorum, which allowed it to vote on hundreds of pending military nominations, including Breedlove’s. After the committee recommended moving the nominations to the full Senate, Hagel jokingly asked if the hearing was over. Levin replied, “It is. At least for the 549 nominees it’s over.” Hagel responded, “A damn efficient committee.” Breedlove, currently US Air Forces in Europe commander, went before the committee on April 11 for his nomination hearing.
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.