The Senate Armed Services Committee approved on Wednesday the White House nominees to become the Secretaries of the Air Force and Army, The Hill reported.
The committee advanced by voice vote Barbara Barrett to be Air Force Secretary and Ryan McCarthy to be Army Secretary, sending their nominations to the full Senate for confirmation votes after their joint confirmation hearing last week.
The top civilian Air Force role has been vacant since the end of May when former Secretary Heather Wilson resigned to become president of the University of Texas at El Paso.
At her confirmation hearing, Barrett emphasized a commitment to prioritize setting up Space Force, a separate military branch for space that first must get congressional approval, as On Base reported earlier this week.
Barrett’s past leadership roles include serving as chairwoman of the Aerospace Corporation, deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and ambassador to Finland.
McCarthy, a former Army Ranger who deployed to Afghanistan, has served as under secretary of the Army since 2017.
The Army Secretary role has been vacant since Defense Secretary Mark Esper became the Pentagon’s top civilian in July.
Post-Leadership, McConnell Plans to Push for More Defense Funding
When Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell steps down from his Senate leadership role after the November elections, he’ll have at least two more years in the Senate. Now he’s signaled one of his priorities as a rank-and-file Senator is to increase defense funding,...
