Eric Fanning testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., Feb. 28, 2013, as part of the confirmation process to serve as the under secretary of the Air Force. The Senate confirmed Fanning as the next Air Force under secretary April 18, 2013. The president must appoint him before he can assume his new position. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
4/19/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Eric Fanning will be the next Air Force under secretary, according to a Senate confirmation vote April 18.
Fanning provided testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee Feb. 28, before the full Senate voted on his confirmation. Now the president must appoint him before he can assume his new position.
"I have been immensely proud to serve these last four years with the men and women of the Navy and the Marine Corps. I very much look forward to becoming part of the Air Force family," he said during his confirmation hearing. "It would be my honor to play a role in making sure that the best men and women our country has to offer get all the support they need in undertaking the mission of defending our country, a mission for which they freely volunteer."
The Air Force has been without an under secretary since June 2012, when then-Under Secretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton was appointed to under secretary of defense for Personnel and Readiness. Dr. Jamie Morin was appointed to serve as the acting under secretary in July 2012.
President Obama nominated Fanning Aug. 1, 2012. At that time, he was serving as the deputy under secretary and deputy chief management officer for the Department of the Navy.
Pending the president's appointment, Fanning will be sworn into the position later this month.
