WASHINGTON –
Gen. Norton Schwartz, a 35-year veteran in special operations, will be the 19th Air Force chief of staff, after receiving a Senate confirmation vote which occurred Aug. 1.
General Schwartz provided testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee July 22, before the full Senate voted on his confirmation. Now the president must appoint the general before he can assume his new position.
"I intend to embody the Air Force core values of integrity, service and excellence as I lead the Air Force at this critical transition period," said General Schwartz.
General Schwartz, who now serves as the commander of United States Transportation Command, or USTRANSCOM, will assume the position of Air Force chief of staff. Gen. Duncan McNabb, also confirmed by the Senate, will assume command of USTRANSCOM.
In his current position, General Schwartz's command is the single manager for global air, land and sea transportation for the Department of Defense.
His command experience includes the 1st Special Operations Group and 1st Special Operations Wing, both at Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Special Operations Command Pacific, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii; U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.; and Alaskan Command, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.
General Schwartz attended the U.S. Air Force Academy and graduated in 1973. He is an alumnus of the National War College, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a 1994 Fellow of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Seminar XXI.