AP
June 10, 2008
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates recommended yesterday that Gen. Norton Schwartz, a 35-year veteran with a background in special operations, be the next Air Force chief.
In a sweeping shake-up of the Air Force, Gates also formally sent former Air Force official Michael Donley's name to the White House to be the next secretary of the beleaguered service.
President Bush quickly announced he would nominate Donley, and designated him as acting secretary until he is confirmed by the Senate.
Gates announced Thursday that he was removing Air Force Gen. Michael Moseley from the chief's job and Michael Wynne as its top civilian. Gates held them accountable for failing to fully correct an erosion of nuclear-related performance standards.
In an effort to get at least part of the new team in place right away, Gates also asked Bush to designate Donley as the acting secretary effective June 21 - a move that would allow him to begin work without waiting for Senate confirmation. Wynne's resignation is effective that day.
Schwartz had been thought to be in line for retirement, and his replacement as head of Transportation Command, Lt. Gen. William Fraser III, had been announced in April. But yesterday, Gates recommended that Fraser be nominated as the next vice chief of the Air Force.
