Lt. Gen. Glenn Spears, currently the deputy commander of US Southern Command, has been nominated to take over 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), replacing Lt Gen. Norman Seip, the Air Force announced yesterday. Seip, who has lead AFSOUTH since July 2006, is retiring later this year. Spears, a 31-year airman, has been the No. 2 at SOUTHCOM since June 2006.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

