George nominated as next Army vice chief

Lt. Gen. Randy George has been nominated to receive a fourth star and become the Army's next vice chief of staff, the service announced June 28 with a slew of other general officer reassignments and promotions.

George, who currently serves as the senior military assistant to the defense secretary, would succeed Gen. Joseph Martin as the Army’s second-highest-ranking uniformed officer. Besides supporting the chief of staff, the vice chief holds his own responsibilities for the Army acquisition process.

Lt. Gen. Gary Brito, currently the deputy chief of staff for personnel (G-1), has been nominated to receive a fourth star and lead Training and Doctrine Command.

Maj. Gen. Douglas Stitt, who is currently director of military personnel operations in Brito’s office, will be nominated to receive a third star and succeed Brito.

The announcement included two other four-star appointments that have been previously announced and reported. Gen. Darryl Williams, previously the superintendent of West Point, will replace Gen. Christopher Cavoli at the head of Army Europe and Africa, while Cavoli will lead U.S. European Command.

Absent from the announcement was any mention of a new permanent head for Army Futures Command, which has lacked a four-star leader since Gen. John Murray retired late last year. Other changes were announced at the upper echelons of Futures Command.

Maj. Gen. Ross Coffman will receive a third star and become a deputy commanding general at Futures Command. Coffman currently directs the Next Generation Combat Vehicle Cross-Functional Team, which is responsible for coordinating four high-profile ground modernization programs within Futures Command.

Brig. Gen. Geoffrey Norman will replace Coffman at the CFT, according to the Army announcement. Norman is currently the deputy commanding general for support at the 1st Infantry Division.

The program executive office for combat support and combat service support will have a permanent director for the first time in more than a year, according to the announcement.

Brig. Gen. Samuel Peterson, currently the deputy director for transition at the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, will take command at the PEO.

Brig. Gen. Christopher Schneider will become the next program executive officer for soldier, according to the announcement. He most recently served as the Army acquisition executive’s deputy for acquisition and systems management.