Air Force commander found dead in home on Colorado base

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (The Gazette) — Officials say the commander of a U.S. Air Force base in Colorado has been found dead in his home on the base.

The Gazette reports that Col. Thomas Falzarano was the commander of the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base outside Colorado Springs.

The Air Force says the cause of his death was under investigation, but initial indications are it was due to natural causes.

Officials say the 47-year-old Air Force Academy graduate took command of the Colorado space wing in July and was poised to be one of the top officers in the nation's new Space Force.