Gen. Lance W. Lord, who is commander of Air Force Space Command and currently the longest serving Air Force four-star on active duty, plans to retire on April 1, after 37 years of service. AFSPC officials say details for the change of command ceremony are forthcoming, as is the name of his successor. Officials also say that the Space Command NCO force will bestow its order of the sword upon Lord on Feb. 11.
Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. Lawmakers often opt to keep Air Force systems that bring jobs to their districts, which complicates matters as the service looks to modernize and ditch certain platforms.…