Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie, Vermont National Guard adjutant general since 2006, last week pinned on his third star for his new assignment as US Northern Command’s deputy commander at Peterson AFB, Colo. “That third star was richly earned and is richly deserved,” said National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Craig McKinley during Dubie’s Aug. 14 promotion ceremony in the Pentagon. “It’s an honor for me to be here,” said Dubie, who will assume his new role on Aug. 27, according to an NGB release. In that role, he will also serve as vice commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command’s US element. Dubie succeeds Army Lt. Gen. Frank Grass, whom the Senate has confirmed to receive a fourth star to lead the NGB in place of McKinley, who is retiring. (Arlington report by Army Sgt. Darron Salzer)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.