President Barack Obama has nominated Lt. Gen. James Holmes, U.S. Air Force deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and requirements, as commander of Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.
Holmes is also up for a potential rank promotion to general, the Defense Department said Thursday.
Holmes currently manages the development and integration of the Air Force’s operational requirements and long-term strategies and plans.
He started his military career in 1981 and has since commanded the 27th Fighter Squadron, the 14th Operations Group, the 4th Fighter Wing and the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing and served under the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
He was vice commander of the Air Education and Training Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas where he handled the recruitment, training and education of Air Force personnel before he was appointed to his current position.
Holmes is a command pilot with at least 4,000 flight hours and has flown the T-38, T-37 and T-1A aircraft with 500 combat hours in the F-15A/B/C/D/E aircraft.
He is the recipient of military awards such as the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal.