Maj. Gen. Bradford Shwedo assumed command of 25th Air Force during an Aug. 3 ceremony at JBSA-Lackland, Texas. Shwedo, who previously served as director of capability and resource integration for US Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Md., replaced Maj. Gen. Jack Shanahan, who was promoted to lieutenant general following the change of command for his new role as under?secretary of defense (intelligence) for joint and coalition warfighter support. Air Combat Command boss Gen. Hawk Carlisle officiated the ceremony, according to an Aug. 4 base release. Carlisle also officiated the Ninth Air Force change of command at Shaw AFB, S.C., on July 31 when Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly assumed command from Maj. Gen. H.D. Polumbo. Kelly previously led the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Polumbo is slated to retire on Oct. 1, according to his official biography page. (Shaw release.)
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.