President Biden has put forward Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, Gen. David Allvin, as his nominee for the next Air Force chief of staff. While the nomination has been submitted to the Senate, it has not been publicly announced yet.
If confirmed, Gen. Allvin would succeed Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., who was previously selected by President Biden to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Brown’s nomination has already been approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee. Once confirmed by the full Senate, he will make history as the second Black man to hold the position of chairman of the Joint Chiefs, following in the footsteps of Colin Powell.
With Gen. Brown’s appointment and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s role at the Defense Department, it would mark a historic moment as the top two Pentagon officials would be Black men for the first time.
Gen. Allvin has an impressive career with extensive experience in various critical roles worldwide, including Afghanistan, Germany, and the Pentagon on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He has held several leadership positions, such as commanding general of NATO Air Training Command–Afghanistan and head of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing in Kabul.
In addition to Gen. Allvin’s nomination, President Biden recently announced Adm. Lisa Franchetti as his pick for the next chief of naval operations. She will take on this role after serving as vice chief of naval operations. Her nomination had previously been passed over by Defense Secretary Austin, but she has now been selected for the position.
However, the nominations and promotions in the military have encountered delays in the Senate, largely due to Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who is using a hold to protest against the Pentagon’s abortion policy. This has raised concerns among Biden, Austin, and other top officials, as they warn that this hold is jeopardizing national security. They have called on Sen. Tuberville to end the hold and allow the Senate to move forward with military promotions.