The Senate Armed Services Committee announced Thursday it will hold a confirmation hearing Tuesday for Air Force Gen. John Hyten to become the next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In the announcement Chairman Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said the committee had contributed extensive consideration to Gen. Hyten’s recently delayed nomination and would hold an open hearing, Tues., July 30 for his confirmation.
“Ahead of this hearing, the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have devoted many hours to reviewing General Hyten and his nomination, at four executive sessions held by the committee and on their own time,” Inhofe said in the statement.
“Through a fair, thorough and methodical process, each member was able to ask questions, receive answers, review documents, listen to testimony, conduct analysis and express their opinions,” he added.
The committee interviewed Hyten last Thursday, and earlier in the week interviewed his accuser of allegations of sexual assault, a senior military officer who previously worked for Hyten, according to a report from Defense News.
If confirmed, Hyten would take over from Air Force Gen. Paul Selva who is retiring. He would join newly appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley, who was confirmed by the Senate Thursday.
With Hyten’s hearing scheduled for Tuesday morning, the committee also rescheduled the confirmation hearing for Vice Adm. Michael Gilday to become the next Chief of Naval Operations to Wed., July 31.
DOD photo by EJ Hersom