Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh is retiring July 1, ending a nearly 40-year Air Force career, spokesman Ed Gulick told Air Force Magazine. The service did not immediately announce his successor. Welsh took over from retired Gen. Norton Schwartz in August 2012, and during his career commanded US Air Forces in Europe; served as vice commander of Air Education and Training Command; as associate director of the central intelligence for military affairs, and as Commandant of Cadets at the Air Force Academy. Welsh, who flew A-10s and F-16s operationally, was a commander at the group and wing level, held numerous staff jobs, and attended the Army Command and General Staff College.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.