Maj. Gen. Gregory Feest has assumed command of the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M., succeeding Maj. Gen. Frederick Roggero, who led the center since December 2008. Roggero is officially retiring on Oct. 1 after 33 years of uniformed service. “We will continue to build existing programs and initiate new programs that reach out to our airmen,” said Feest after accepting the center’s guidon from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz during the change-of-command ceremony earlier this month. He also reaffirmed that preventing mishaps and preserving combat capabilities are the center’s top priorities. Prior to this assignment, Feest led 19th Air Force at Randolph AFB, Tex, for more than two years, managing flying training within Air Education and Training Command. (Kirtland report by Marie Vanover)
Adm. Christopher W. Grady, nominee to be vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Senators during his Dec. 8 confirmation hearing that the Pentagon needs to be prepared to deal with “two nuclear peer competitors," calling China’s rapid growth of its nuclear capabilities “spectacular” and Russia’s recent actions…