Eric Fanning will be sworn in as under secretary of the U.S. Air Force later this month after the Senate voted to confirm his nomination Thursday.
President Barack Obama nominated Fanning in August 2012 while he was serving as deputy under secretary and deputy chief management officer for the Department of the Navy, the Air Force News Service said Friday.
Fanning testified to the Senate Armed Services Committee Feb. 28 and will assume his position pending his official appointment.
The branch has not had a full-time under secretary since June 2012, when Erin Conaton was appointed as under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness.
Conaton stepped down from that position at the end of last year and Jessica Wright currently holds that post on an acting basis.
Dr. Jamie Morin began serving as the Air Force’s acting under secretary in July 2012.
