FighterSweep Fans, the speculation over who will receive the nod as the U.S. Air Force’s next Chief of Staff can now be laid to rest. General David Goldfein, a career pilot with more than 4,000 hours in fighters and reconnaissance platforms, has been serving as the Vice Chief of Staff. The current CSAF, General Mark Welsh III is slated to retire in July. Congratulations to “Fingers,” and may he make the right choices for the force, as well as provide solutions to the myriad of problems facing our nation’s airmen.

Gen. David Goldfein, a battle-tested command pilot who flew combat missions in the Gulf War, the Afghanistan War, and in NATO’s 1999 air war to force the president of the former Yugoslavia to end his campaign of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, has been nominated to be the service’s next chief of staff, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

If approved, Goldfein will succeed Gen. Mark Welsh, who is retiring July 1. He has been the Air Force’s vice chief of staff since August 2015.

“I’m extremely humbled by the nomination to serve as the Air Force’s 21st chief of staff,” Goldfein said in an Air Force release. “If confirmed, I pledge to serve our airmen and their families unwaveringly and honor our remarkable heritage and legacy of integrity, service and excellence.”

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Welsh also lauded Goldfein’s selection in the release.

“Gen. Goldfein possesses the experience and vision needed to address dynamic global challenges and increasing military demand,” James said. “He knows how to build and sustain key partnerships, has important warfighting experience, and will exercise the critical judgment required to balance our manpower and resources as we shape tomorrow’s Air Force. There is not a better person to lead our airmen into the next century of airpower dominance.”

“Dave Goldfein is an airman who epitomizes warrior leadership, and that’s exactly what our Air Force deserves,” Welsh said. “He connects deeply with airmen, he supports their families relentlessly, and he absolutely recognizes the criticality of our service’s mission. Most importantly, he and [his wife] Dawn understand the remarkable privilege they’ve been afforded in serving the nation.”

The original article at the Air Force Times can be viewed in its entirety right here.

Featured photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force.