Confirmation Advances

The Senate Armed Services Committee late last week voted to advance Air Force Gen. Robert Kehler's nomination to become the chief of U.S. Strategic Command.

If confirmed by the full Senate, Kehler -- who oversees Air Force Space Command -- would replace Gen. Kevin Chilton, who is retiring.

Kehler appeared before the committee on Nov. 18. President Obama nominated Kehler for the STRATCOM post in early September. Sen. James Webb (D-VA) had reportedly threatened to hold up Kehler's confirmation, but has since dropped those threats.

Appearing on a discussion panel with the majority of the service's four-star generals at an Air Force Association-sponsored conference in mid-September, Kehler had a tendency to answer a number of questions from the moderator like this: “I am humbled by the nomination and look forward to the confirmation process. Thank you.”

When asked to reflect on his three years at Air Force Space Command, he joked, “This is a little bit -- you know -- like the report of my demise is a little premature. I'm not dead yet.”