Lt. Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski has officially been nominated to replace Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger as the head of Air Force Materiel Command. Wolfenbarger, the Air Force's first female four-star general, is retiring this summer.

"Ellen is a no-nonsense, straightforward, big-thinking officer and I think she's going to be an exceptional leader to follow Janet and keep this momentum going," Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh told Defense News in a Feb. 13 interview. "AFMC will be very well served by its new commander."

If confirmed, Pawlikowski would receive her fourth star.

She is currently serving as the military deputy to William A. LaPlante, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition. Earlier, from June 2011 until June 2014, she was commander, Space and Missile Systems Center and Program Executive Officer for Space, where she oversaw the Air Force's space acquisitions.

She has drawn positive reviews from industry insiders for her time in Washington, with executives who have dealt with her calling her a positive influence as the service tries to change longstanding acquisition challenges.

If confirmed, Pawlikowski would be the third female four-star general in Air Force history, and, depending on when she is confirmed, the second in less than a year. In October, Gen. Lori Robinson pinned on her fourth star and took over as commander of Pacific Air Forces. Observers of the service believe she is well positioned to become the first female chief of staff.

The Defense Department also announced the following nominations on Wednesday:

  • Maj. Gen. John L. Dolan, has been nominated to get his third star and to be as commander of U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force at Yokota Air Base, Japan. He is currently serving as chief of staff at U.S. Pacific Command's headquarters in Hawaii.
  • Maj. Gen. John B. Cooper, to receive has been nominated for his third star and to be as deputy chief of staff for logistics, engineering and force protection at Air Force headquarters in the Pentagon. He is currently director of logistics at Air Combat Command's headquarters at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
  • Maj. Gen. Mark A. Ediger, has been nominated to get his third star and to be as surgeon general of the Air Force. Right now, he is deputy surgeon general.
  • Maj. Gen. Lee K. Levy II, has been nominated to get a third star and to be as commander of the Air Force Sustainment Center at Air Force Materiel Command, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He is currently vice director of logistics on the Joint Staff at in the Pentagon.
  • Col. William M. Knight has been nominated for his first star. He is currently deputy director for operations at Air Mobility Command headquarters, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
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