The Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday approved the nomination of Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson to be the next commander of US Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command. If approved by the full Senate, Robinson, who currently serves as commander of Pacific Air Forces, will become the first female combatant commander. The panel, by voice vote, also approved the nomination of Army Gen. Vincent Brooks to be the commander of US Forces-Korea and Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti to be the next commander of US European Command, replacing retiring Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove. The nominations now head to the full Senate.
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.