Retired Gen. Norton Schwartz, who stepped down as Chief of Staff last August, will become president and chief executive officer of Business Executives for National Security in July, announced the organization. BENS’ board of directors unanimously approved him for these positions on May 20, according to a release. He will replace retired Army Gen. Montgomery Meigs, who will step down on July 22 after more than three years leading the organization, which is based in Washington, D.C. “General Schwartz’s 39-year Air Force career was marked with many milestones and praiseworthy achievements, making him an ideal successor to build on the great progress General Meigs delivered for BENS over the last few years,” states the release. BENS is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that supports the US government by applying best-business-practice solutions to national security challenges. In the coming weeks and months, Schwartz “will travel to each BENS region to meet with members and discuss ways to continue carrying out our important work,” states the release. (Schwartz’s official Air Force biography)
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.