Lt. Gen. David Goldfein took command of Air Forces Central from Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage during a ceremony Wednesday in Southwest Asia. Goldfein served the previous two years as Air Combat Command’s director of operations at JB Langley-Eustis, Va. US Central Command boss Marine Gen. James Mattis presided over the ceremony. “I am extremely honored to join Gen. Mattis’ team as his air component commander during a unique time in this region’s history,” said Goldfein. “While there are many challenges ahead, there are an equal number of opportunities. I’m also humbled to follow Gen. Hostage, who has done such an extraordinary job of building partnerships across this region that are absolutely central to success.” The Senate has confirmed Hostage, who led AFCENT since August 2009, to receive a fourth star for his new assignment as head of ACC. He’s replacing Gen. William Fraser. (AFCENT release)
The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc. and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems matching $17.7 million contracts for an "Off-Board Sensing Station,” which is an unmanned aircraft that would extend a manned fighter’s sensing range and also potentially carry additional weapons for that aircraft. The cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts…