Space Command Lives: “Lots of rumors” that Air Force Space Command will be downgraded to less than a major command and headed by a three-star general are untrue, according to its acting chief, Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz. He assured reporters during media roundtable Thursday that USAF’s top leadership recognizes AFSPC’s value in “enabling sea, air, and ground forces” to perform their missions, and that the command will remain a major command. Gen. Lance Lord stepped down as Space Command chief at the beginning of March, and the lack of an announced replacement fueled rumors of a command shakeup. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), co-chair of the Congressional Space Caucus, upon hearing the rumors, wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld promising to fight any downgrade in AFSPC’s status.
President Joe Biden previewed $800 million in new defense assistance to Ukraine, including “a new advanced Western air defense system,” in closing a NATO summit in Madrid that saw formal invitations offered to Finland and Sweden to join the alliance. Also during the historic summit, mention of China was added…