Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, new Air Forces Central commander, laid out his five priorities for the next two years for the airmen and civilians under his command. They are: decisive airpower to support US Central Command’s campaign plans in places like Afghanistan and Iraq; defend the region to continuously improve US and partner integrated air and missile defenses; defend the base to remain constantly vigilant in defending personnel, command and control, and base infrastructure; engage to strengthen and build partner capacity; and prepare to aggressively plan, prepare, and stand ready to lead or support future contingencies. AFCENT’s members are part of the “long blue line,” said Goldfein. “We are the descendants of airmen who built our service in 1947 and committed their blood, sweat, and treasure to hand us the greatest Air Force the world has ever known. Their blood runs in our veins.” (AFCENT release)
Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. Lawmakers often opt to keep Air Force systems that bring jobs to their districts, which complicates matters as the service looks to modernize and ditch certain platforms.…