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)
U.S. Air Force F-35s and F-22s regularly deploy deep into the Pacific region from Alaska, Utah, and Hawaii. In the future, though, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command would like to see the Air Force permanently station fifth-generation aircraft west of the international date line—closer to China.