The Senate on June 23 confirmed Lt. Gen. John Hesterman to be assistant vice chief of staff and director of the Air Staff. Hesterman has served as Air Forces Central Command boss since July 2013. A 1983 Air Force Academy graduate, Hesterman has served as an instructor pilot in the F-16C, F-117A, F-15A, and the T-38C. (For more coverage of Hesterman, see US Official: Air Strikes in Iraq, Syria are Effective, and No Micromanagement of Iraq Campaign, Air Boss Says.)
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.