Mr. Timothy Beyland, (left), the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, delivers the oath of office to Mr. Eric Fanning installing him as the new Under Secretary of the Air Force at a ceremony at the Pentagon on April 29, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michael J. Pausic)
4/29/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Senate confirmed the nomination of Eric Fanning to become the next under secretary of the Air Force April 18 and he began his transition into the office after being sworn in April 29.
"On behalf of the more than 690,000 men and women of the U.S. Air Force, I want to welcome Eric to our Air Force family," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. "He will be a tremendous asset to our Air Force and our leadership team. His diverse background in national security matters, coupled with this communications and congressional experience, will enable him to be a champion for our Airmen and their families during this challenging time in the Department of Defense."
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.
"I have been immensely proud to serve these last four years with the men and women of the Navy and the Marine Corps, and I look forward to being part of the Air Force family," Fanning said. "I am honored by this opportunity and look forward to stand beside Secretary Donley in making sure the men and women of this great service receive the support they need in undertaking the mission of defending our country."
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.
"I want to thank Jamie for his dedication to the team as the acting under secretary of the Air Force these last ten months. His command of complex issues and tireless efforts ensured the best interests of the Airmen, their families and the Air Force remained at the forefront of every decision," Donley said. "We will continue to benefit from his leadership as he continues his role as the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller."
The under secretary is responsible for Air Force matters on behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force to include the organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its Total Force Airmen and their families. He will oversee the service's annual budget of more than $110 billion, and serve as acting secretary of the Air Force in Donley's absence. Fanning will also serve as the chief management officer of the Air Force, the senior Air Force energy official, and the focal point for space within Air Force Headquarters.
Fanning served as the deputy under secretary and deputy chief management officer for the Department of the Navy since 2009. Prior to that position, he was deputy director of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism. Fanning joined the commission staff from CMG, a strategic communications firm, where he was managing director.
From 2001 to 2006, he was senior vice president for Strategic Development at Business Executives for National Security, or BENS, a Washington, DC-based think tank, where he was in charge of international programs and all regional office operations in six cities across the country.
Previously, Fanning worked at Robinson, Lerer & Montgomery, another strategic communications firm. He also worked on the national and foreign assignment desks at CBS National News in New York and has held various political positions in Washington, D.C. He was a research assistant with the House Armed Services Committee, a special assistant in the Immediate Office of the Secretary of Defense, and associate director of political affairs at the White House.
Comments
5/1/2013 10:33:43 AM ET @ Sgt and LTC. Yes would be nice but as JAFSO says unrealistic to expect given our lack of conscription and shrinking size of our all volunteer force over the years. And nowhere from the Constitution to federal law is there a prerequisite for any civ leadership from the POTUS down to service appointees to have served in uniform. That's like a major league sports teams wishing their owners or GMs were former players. Usually the rare exception not the rule. We are all subject to legislative rules and policies made by a body like Congress whose membership minimally reflects our own makeup. Am sure the new UnderSec will do fine but has a steep learning curve especially as the SECAF retires.
ROF, CONUS
5/1/2013 3:09:37 AM ET @JAFSO Sgt Snorkle did not say anything against civilian authority over the military. He said it would be refreshing for our civilian leaders to HAVE HAD some period of military service so that they might appreicate the implications of their policies. I wholeheartedly agree with Sgt Snorkle.
LTCOLAF, UK
4/30/2013 7:08:34 PM ET well said however civilians who have never served know NOT what it is like to serve nor what we need as far as representation. its simply about politics at that level.
aj, USA ACC
4/30/2013 4:03:10 PM ET @Sgt Snorkle You mean like SecDef Hagel. Great dream but impractical to expect especially with only 1 percent of the population ever having served in the armed forces. Civilian authority over the military like it or not is what makes us the democracy we are and keeps us from becoming a Syria N. Korea etc.
JAFSO, Saddle Rock CO
4/30/2013 10:06:53 AM ET Wouldn't it be a breath of fresh air if a future appointee had previously served in one of the branches of our armed forces...even for just one enlistmentperiod of service
