The nominee for the Air Force’s top military job will face members of the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday amid a readiness and modernization crisis.
President Obama nominated Gen. David Goldfein, the current vice chief, to replace outgoing Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh. Welsh will retire at the end of June.
While Goldfein’s exact plans for how he would run the Air Force aren’t clear, he previewed his priorities during a recent appearance before the House Armed Services Committee.
Goldfein testified the Air Force is the “smallest, oldest and least ready force in its history.” The Air Force had 946,000 airmen with an average aircraft age of 17 years at the start of Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Today, the service operates amid more threats with only 660,000 airmen and with aircraft averaging 27 years old.
The Air Force will “just be able to hold our own” over the next few years, Goldfein said.
Goldfein is a graduate of the prestigious fighter weapons school and flew combat missions in operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Allied Force and Enduring Freedom.
While on a combat mission over Serbia on May 2, 1999, Goldfein’s F-16 was hit by a surface-to-air missile. He ejected safely under the moonlit night only to land in the middle of an open field. Two hours later, a combat search and rescue helicopter landed under fire to save him. Five bullet holes were reportedly found in the rescue helicopter.
Every year, Goldfein brings a bottle of scotch to the pararescuemen who saved him that day. They always leave the last sip to drink with Goldfein when he refills them the next year.
As the highest-ranking Air Force officer, Goldfein will also advise the president as a member of the Joint Chiefs.
