Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced Friday that the president had formally nominated Gen. David Goldfein to serve as the next Air Force chief of staff.
Goldfein, who currently serves as vice chief of staff, has spent 4,200 hours in the cockpit, including flying missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Dave’s extensive political military experience will be to our great benefit as we continue to accelerate our efforts to deal [the Islamic State] a lasting defeat,” Carter said.
The nomination will still need to be confirmed by the Senate, where Carter said he hopes it moves through quickly.
Goldfein would replace Gen. Mark Welsh, the current Air Force chief of staff, who is retiring this summer.
