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New AF civilian leader confirmed

The Air Force has a No. 2 civilian leader for the first time since August 2007.

The Senate confirmed Erin Conaton as undersecretary of the Air Force on March 4 after months of political wrangling.

Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby, the Republican senators from Alabama, had placed holds on her nomination because they were upset over the Air Force’s handling of the KC-X tanker competition, among other things. The holds were lifted without explanation.

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing earlier that day, Sessions told Air Force Secretary Michael Donley that he was still upset about the tanker competition and that “this [was] not going to go away.”

Sessions spokeswoman Sarah Haley declined to comment on why the holds were lifted. Shelby’s office could not be reached for comment.

Conaton was nominated by President Obama on Nov. 10.

Frank Kendall III’s nomination as principal deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition also was confirmed March 4. He had been held up by the Alabama senators as well.

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