President Obama has nominated Marine Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser to replace Army Gen. David Rodriguez as head of US Africa Command. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Thursday congratulated Waldhauser for the nomination and his pending promotion to general. He has shown through his strong leadership, “excellent political-military experience, and superb management skills” why he is “the perfect pick” for AFRICOM, Carter said in a written statement. “I am confident that Lt. Gen. Waldhauser will bring the same caliber of strong and steady leadership to AFRICOM that Gen. David Rodriguez has brought to the command for the past three years,” he said. Waldhauser currently serves as director for joint force development for the Joint Staff.
A dozen and a half Air Force Reservists formally transferred to the Space Force on July 15, becoming the new service’s first 18 part-time Guardians. The move is the culmination of more than two and a half years of work to create a system unlike any other military branch.