WASHINGTON — There is a growing sense that the next Air Force Chief of Staff will be Gen. David Goldfein, currently the Air Force Vice Chief.

A pair of sources with knowledge of the situation tell Defense News that Goldfein appears to be in pole position to replace Gen. Mark Welsh, who will retire come July 1. One source said the Pentagon's recommendation has been delivered to the White House for consideration, but both sources cautioned that nothing is finalized until President Barack Obama signs off on the final choice.

As first reported by Air Force Magazine on Wednesday night, Goldfein’s combat experience appears to be a deciding factor. He has extensive experience in the Middle East and the BalkansEastern Europe.

If confirmed, Chief of Staff would represent the third job held by Goldfein in the last calendar year. He spent two years as the director of the Joint Staff until August 2015, when he was officially named Vice Chief. An F-16 pilot, Goldfein was famously shot down while flying over Serbia in 1999.

Other potential moves identified by one source included moving Lt. Gen. Mike "Mobile" Holmes, currently Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements, to head Pacific Air Forces, as well as selecting Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, head of Air Force Materiel Command, to take Goldfein's role as Vice.One source highlighted Goldfein's experience on the Joint Staff as a positive for the service going forward, as it allows the general to "understand how the other services view the Air Force" and react accordingly.

However, both of those are still in the early stages of consideration, the source warned.

The support for Goldfein amongst Pentagon watchers grew rapidly, after months of rising and falling stocks for other candidates.

In 2015, there was significant churn around Gen. Lori Robinson, who was seen as a favorite of Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. Seen as a rising star in the Air Force, Robinson shot through the ranks, adding a star a year from 2012 through 2014. However, in March Robinson was named as the new head of US Northern Command, a joint position that removed her from the running for Chief.

Speculation had also swirled around Gen. Darren McDew, who heads US Transportation Command and would have the opportunity to make history as the first African-American chief for the service. However, the wind around McDew seems to have quieted in recent months.

Instead, the momentum seemed to have formed behind Gen. John Hyten, the head of US Space Command, which would represent a dramatic cultural shift for the service given that he lacks piloting experience, often seen as a cultural prerequisite to lead the Air Force. However, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has shown a propensity for choosing out-of-the-box nominees in his choice for both Army and Navy leadership, and has emphasized the importance of space and cyber operations during his term as Secretary.

If Hyten indeed misses out on his chance to be the Chief, he would be a logical fit to replace Adm. Cecil Haney as head of US Strategic Command. Haney has been in place since Nov. 2013.

Gen. Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, the head of Air Combat Command, was seen as the most traditional nominee to take over as Chief. However, he never truly seemed to have develop tangible support for the job, and seems to have lost out to Goldfein as the fighter pilot nominee. As a result, he will likely retire out when his term is done.

Email: amehta@defensenews.com

Twitter: @AaronMehta

About Aaron Mehta

Aaron Mehta was deputy editor and senior Pentagon correspondent for Defense News, covering policy, strategy and acquisition at the highest levels of the Defense Department and its international partners.

Share:
More In Defense News