Air Force News, news from Iraq - Air Force Times

Schwartz to assume command today

Gen. Norton Schwartz will take over Tuesday as Air Force chief of staff, Air Force Times has learned.

A Pentagon source said last week that Schwartz was tentatively scheduled to take over Tuesday, and an Air Force spokesman said Monday that the Air Force is planning to hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon at which Schwartz is expected to be introduced as the new chief.

Vice Chief Gen. Duncan McNabb, who will take over for Schwartz as head of U.S. Transportation Command, has been running the Air Force since Gen. T. Michael Moseley stepped down as chief Aug. 1. Schwartz could not take over as chief at that time because he was still awaiting confirmation by the Senate and appointment by the president.

The nominations of Michael Donley to become Air Force secretary and Lt. Gen. William M. Fraser III to become vice chief are still bogged down in the Senate Armed Services Committee. The committee approved the nominations of Schwartz and McNabb on July 31 but did not act on the Donley and Fraser nominations.

Congress began its monthlong recess Aug. 4, so there will be no action on the nominations until September at the earliest. Donley will continue as acting secretary until the committee and the full Senate act.