General officer nominations, assignments announced

The Defense Department announced June 28 that President Obama made the following nominations:

Air Force Lt. Gen. Robin Rand has been nominated for appointment to the rank of general and for assignment as commander, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Rand is currently serving as commander, Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Air Combat Command, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Russell J. Handy been nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and for assignment as commander, Alaskan Command, U.S. Pacific Command; commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces; and commander, Alaskan North American Defense Region, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Handy is currently serving as director of operations, plans, requirements and programs, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

The Defense Department also announced the following assignments June 20:

Col. Jon T. Thomas, who has been selected for the rank of brigadier general, chief, Program Integration Division, deputy chief of staff, strategic plans and programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, to deputy director, future joint force development, J-7, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington.

Col. John M. Wood, who has been selected for the rank of brigadier general, commander, 87th Air Base Wing, Air Mobility Command, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., to deputy director, strategic plans, requirements, and programs, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.