Gen. William Shelton on Wednesday accepted command of Air Force Space Command at Peterson AFB, Colo. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presided over the change-of-command ceremony, before which Shelton received his fourth star. Shelton succeeds Gen. Robert Kehler, who led AFSPC since October 2007 and has received Senate confirmation for his new assignment leading US Strategic Command at Offutt AFB, Neb. “I’ve been in and out of Air Force Space Command since 1986, so to have the good fortune to come back to command this great organization is truly a special privilege,” said Shelton upon assuming his new post. His most recent job was as USAF’s assistant vice chief of staff from July 2009. Among his space assignments, Shelton led 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., from May 2005 to December 2008. (Peterson release and second Peterson release) (Shelton’s updated biography)
The Pentagon plans to use U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s to deport 5,400 people currently detained by Customs and Border Protection, officials announced Jan. 22, the first act in President Donald Trump’s sweeping promise to crack down on undocumented immigrants and increase border security.