Pacific Air Forces boss Gen. Howie Chandler on Nov. 10 relieved Col. Bryan Bearden of his duties as commander of the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan AB, South Korea. A Nov. 10 release cited the reason given by Chandler as “duty performance factors.” Bearden, who had led the Wolf Pack wing since May 2008, will receive a new assignment outside Korea, according to the release. Chandler has named Col. Jerry Harris, who has been serving as 13th Air Force director of operations at Hickam AB, Hawaii, to take command at Kunsan.
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.
