Spain tapped as next head of Air Combat Command

The Pentagon on Wednesday nominated Lt. Gen. Adrian Spain to lead Air Combat Command following Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach's retirement.

If confirmed, Spain would be boss of the Air Force’s largest command and be promoted to the rank of general. He currently serves as Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations.

The ACC commander is responsible for measuring the Air Force’s combat readiness and determining where the service can accept risk.

As command head, Spain would also take on the responsibility of integrating the new F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance platform and unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft into the fleet while equipping troops with fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, battle-management, electronic-combat aircraft and command, control and communications systems.

In his current role, Spain oversees the design and execution of the service’s new deployable combat wing model and air task force concept.

The schema was unveiled during the Biden administration as part of its “Reoptimization for Great Power Competition.” It would require whole units, full of multicapable airmen, to train together and eventually deploy together as a team on a more predictable basis as opposed to the prior structure that cherry picked individual airmen from all commands to rotate into overseas assignments.

Under the “reoptimization,” ACC will no longer oversee the Numbered Air Forces, as those would transition into stand-alone commands, or play a role in developing the requirements for weapons systems since those responsibilities would turn over to the still-provisional Integrated Capabilities Command. Service Secretary Troy Meink has not yet decided whether to pursue the Biden-era “reoptimization” plan or scratch it completely.

Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham would replace Spain as the service’s A-3, the Pentagon said in its announcement. Cunningham is currently the head of U.S. Alaska Command.

Both positions require Senate confirmation.