The Senate has confirmed the two Air Force lieutenant generals who will each receive a fourth star when they take the helms of Pacific Air Forces and Air Mobility Command—Lt. Gen. Gary North and Lt. Gen. Raymond Johns Jr., respectively. The Obama Administration formally nominated both officers for their new posts on July 8 (our earlier coverage on North and on Johns). North has served as commander of 9th Air Force/Air Forces Central since February 2006. Johns has served as the Air Staff’s deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs since October 2006.
The Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness revised the Defense Department’s COVID-19 guidelines. The new rules clarify what’s meant by being “up to date” on vaccinations and when personnel must wear masks in vehicles, among other changes.