Structural Additions

The leaders of the House Armed Services Committee today announced their picks for nominations to the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force. Chairman Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking Member Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) each selected individuals who recently left government service.

According to a committee release, McKeon has nominated retired Gen. Raymond Johns, who most recently served as the top military official at Air Mobility Command and left the service just months ago Before that, Johns was the deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs at Air Force headquarters in the Pentagon. Notably, Air Mobility Command's aircraft are operated by a heavy mixture of active-duty, Reserve and Air National Guard airmen.

For his nomination, Smith chose Erin Conatan, the Air Force's former under secretary. Conaton left that position to take over as assistant secretary of defense for personnel and readiness in mid-2012 but resigned from the job at the end of the year. Before that, though, Conaton held the under secretary position for multiple years and showed particular familiarity with the Air Force's space portfolio.

Conaton and Johns would join President Obama's four picks, announced earlier in the week: Margaret Harrell, Janine Davidson, Whit Peters and retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Dennis McCarthy. Senate leaders have not yet made their nominations to the commission.