Gen. Howie Chandler last week formally became the vice chief of staff of the Air Force. He assumed USAF’s No. 2 uniformed post after an almost two-year stint as commander of Pacific Air Forces. Chandler succeeds Gen. William Fraser who held the vice chief’s office since last October and has received Senate confirmation to be the next Air Combat Command head. Chandler is a 1974 graduate of the US Air Force Academy. He is a command pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours, mostly in fighter aircraft. Late last month, Chandler’s replacement, Gen. Gary North, assumed command at PACAF. (SAF/PA release)
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.