Austin Eyed to lead CENTCOM

Dec. 7, 2012

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

President Obama plans to nominate Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Lloyd Austin to lead US Central Command, announced Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in a statement on Thursday. Once the nomination comes and the Senate approves it, Austin would take over from Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis who has overseen US combat forces in Southwest Asia, which includes Afghanistan, since August 2010. Austin previously commanded US Forces-Iraq from September 2010 until the final pullout of US combat forces from there in December 2011. “Austin led our military efforts at a particularly important time, overseeing the drawdown,” said Panetta in his Dec. 6 statement. “Lloyd would bring an important combination of strategic thinking, regional knowledge, and proven judgment to one of the most critical posts in the department,” he added.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Can the Latest Plan for CYBERCOM Stave Off Calls for a New Service?

Air Force’s New Fighter Math Doesn’t Add Up for Critics

Air Force Issues Guidance on Shutdown Backpay, Telework for Returning Workers

READ: Hegseth’s Speech to Generals and Admirals

Related

Trump Says US Will Sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia

Nov. 17, 2025
President Donald Trump said he plans to sell F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, announcing his decision Nov. 17, a day before he meets the country’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House.

Can the Latest Plan for CYBERCOM Stave Off Calls for a New Service?

Nov. 16, 2025
In a brief email Nov. 6, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid out a new Cyber Force Generation plan, meant to give U.S. Cyber Command more authority over the employment, training, and equipping of U.S. troops preparing for and waging cyber war. Former Air Force officers and national security officials say the…

Shutdown Had No Major Impact on Flying Hours, Exercises: Air Force

Nov. 15, 2025
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.

NATO Cancels Plan to Buy E-7 Wedgetails

Nov. 13, 2025
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgNATO is abandoning its effort to buy E-7 Wedgetails to replace its...