Klotz confirmed to lead Air Force Global Strike Command

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col Tadd Sholtis
  • Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz received Senate confirmation to become commander of the Air Force's newest major command, Air Force Global Strike Command. 

"I am honored to have been nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate to lead our Air Force global strike forces," General Klotz said. "I really look forward to serving alongside the great Airmen in the bomber and missile organizations that will fall under the new command, as well as working closely with the elected officials and civic leaders from the states and communities where they live and work." 

General Klotz, who currently serves as assistant vice chief of staff and Air Force staff director, will take charge of the new command upon its formal activation. 

Since Jan. 12, Maj. Gen. James Kowalski has commanded the provisional AFGSC headquarters at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. The provisional AFGSC will be replaced upon activation of the permanent MAJCOM and appointment of General Klotz into the new position. 

On April 2, Air Force officials identified Barksdale AFB, La., as the preferred location for the AFGSC headquarters. Air Force officials intend to make a final basing decision this summer upon the completion of the environmental impact analysis required under the National Environmental Policy Act. 

In his current position, General Klotz oversees the administration and organization of the Air Staff, which develops policies, plans, and programs; establishes requirements; and provides resources to support the Air Force's mission. 

The general is a career space and missile officer and has commanded a Minuteman missile squadron, a missile launch task force, an operations group, a missile wing and a numbered air force. He also has served on the faculty of the U.S. Air Force Academy; in the Office of the Secretary of Defense; as a White House Fellow at the State Department; and as the director for nuclear policy and arms control with the National Security Council at the White House. 

General Klotz also has international experience, working as the chief nuclear policy planner at the U.S. Mission to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and as the defense attaché at the American Embassy in Moscow. 

Prior to assuming his current position, he was vice commander of Air Force Space Command at Peterson AFB, Colo. 

General Klotz is a Rhodes Scholar and 1973 distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He received a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in politics in 1980 from Oxford University, Oxford, England. 

In addition, he attended the National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.; the Senior Officials in National Security Program, Syracuse University, N.Y.; and the Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 

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