The Senate last week approved Lt. Gen. Larry James for reappointment to three-star rank for his new assignment overseeing intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance matters on the Air Staff. James will replace Lt. Gen. David Deptula, who formally retired on Oct. 1. James has led 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic-Space) at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., since December 2008. Taking over at 14th AF is Maj. Gen. Susan Helms, whom the Senate approved last week for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general for the assignment. She’s been director of plans and policy for U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt AFB, Neb., since November 2008.
The Air National Guardsman who was arrested last year for sharing hundreds of top secret and classified documents to online chatrooms was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on Nov. 12 after pleading guilty to several charges this March.