US to appoint first female combatant commander

By Kasim Ileri

WASHINGTON

President Obama has nominated Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson as the Commander of U.S. Northern Command -- the nation’s first female combatant commander, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said Friday.

“Gen. Robinson, it just so happens, would be the first-ever female combatant commander,” Carter said at an event hosted by Politico newspaper.

“That shows yet another thing — which is that we have, coming along now, a lot of female officers who are exceptionally strong. And Lori certainly fits into that category.”

The position is yet to be approved by the Senate but if confirmed, Robinson will be at one of the highest senior officers in the military, leading the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific region.

Northern Command is one of the nation’s six regional combatant commands alongside Central Command, Europe Command, Pacific Command, South Command and Africa Command.

Carter also said that over a period of a few months he would have nominated a replacement for every four-star general position in the military as top rank incumbents would have completed their terms of service at the commands they are overseeing.

By Kasim Ileri

WASHINGTON

“Gen. Robinson, it just so happens, would be the first-ever female combatant commander,” Carter said at an event hosted by Politico newspaper.

“That shows yet another thing — which is that we have, coming along now, a lot of female officers who are exceptionally strong. And Lori certainly fits into that category.”

The position is yet to be approved by the Senate but if confirmed, Robinson will be at one of the highest senior officers in the military, leading the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific region.

Northern Command is one of the nation’s six regional combatant commands alongside Central Command, Europe Command, Pacific Command, South Command and Africa Command.