Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson, commander of Pacific Air Forces, has been nominated by Defense Secretary Ashton Carter as commander of U.S. Northern Command, DoD News reported Friday.
Cheryl Pellerin writes Carter said in an interview that President Barack Obama will also endorse the 34-year Air Force veteran to the Senate.
“[Robinson] has very deep operational experience, is now running the air forces in the Pacific, which is a very challenging place for the Air Force and a very intense operational tempo,” Carter said.
Robinson would become the first female combatant chief once the Senate confirms her appointment, Pellerin reports.
She is also air component commander of U.S. Pacific Command and executive director of Pacific Air Combat Operations staff in Hawaii.
She spent a year as deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command until her appointment in 2013 as vice commander of Air Combat Command.
She has logged at least 900 flight hours as a senior air battle manager for the E-8C joint surveillance target attack radar system and E-3B/C airborne warning and control system planes.
Robinson is a recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Aerial Achievement Medal, among other awards.