Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nominations:
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Eric E. Austin for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command. Austin is currently serving as the commanding general, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Derek C. France for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command; commander, Ninth Air Expeditionary Task Force, Air Combat Command; and Combined Forces Air Component commander, U.S. Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. France is currently serving as commander, Third Air Force, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.