Brig. Gen. William Binger assumed command of Air Force Reserve Command’s 10th Air Force from Maj. Gen. Frank Padilla during a ceremony at NAS JRB Fort Worth, Tex., last week. As an F-16 command pilot who has flown 40 combat missions over Iraq, Binger will oversee one of USAF’s most diverse numbered air forces, said Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner, AFRC chief, during the ceremony, Nov. 5. Tenth Air Force responsibilities include AFRC’s fighter, bomber, special operations, rescue, airborne warning and control, flight training, combat air operations battle staff, remotely piloted aircraft, space and cyber units. “This is an exciting time to lead 10th AF, and I’m honored to be a part of the long blue line of professional airmen who have commanded the power and vigilance NAF,” said Binger. Padilla, who commanded 10th AF for two and a half years, will become the new deputy inspector general for the Air Force at the Pentagon. (Fort Worth release by MSgt. Julie Briden-Garcia)
The Air Force overall reduced its size by 120 aircraft in fiscal year 2021, but kept about the same number of fighter, bomber and attack aircraft, according to data supplied by the service. The F-35 fleet saw the biggest increase while the B-1B bomber fleet saw the largest decline.