Washington, D.C. – Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairman Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) and Ranking Member Michael Turner (R-Ohio) released the following statement regarding yesterday’s announcement that General Kevin P. Chilton, Commander of United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM), is retiring from the U.S. Air Force and that General C. Robert "Bob" Kehler has been nominated by the President as the next STRATCOM Commander:

“We thank General Chilton for his 34 years of dedicated service and leadership.  He has served our country with honor and distinction.  General Chilton’s efforts have brought greater focus on our nation’s strategic forces, scientific and technical workforce, and industrial base.  His candor and expertise were greatly appreciated by this committee and he will be missed.  We wish him well in his transition back into civilian life. 

“In addition, we congratulate, General C. Robert "Bob" Kehler, who has been nominated as the new STRATCOM Commander.   We have worked with General Kehler during his tenure as the Commander of Air Force Space Command and look forward to his successful confirmation.”

U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) is one of 10 U.S. unified commands under the Department of Defense (DoD).  It is charged with the missions of deterring attacks on U.S. vital interests, ensuring U.S. freedom of action in space and cyberspace, delivering integrated kinetic and non-kinetic effects to include nuclear and information operations in support of U.S. Joint Force Commander operations, synchronizing global missile defense plans and operations, synchronizing regional combating of weapons of mass destruction plans, providing integrated surveillance and reconnaissance allocation recommendations to the Secretary of Defense, and advocating for capabilities as assigned.

###