Kehler to succeed Chilton as STRATCOM chief

Air Force Gen. Robert Kehler has been nominated by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to lead the U.S. Strategic Command, the Defense Department announced.
 
Kehler will replace Gen. Kevin Chilton, who is retiring from the position. No date has been set either for the change of command or for Chilton's retirement, according to a Sept. 2 news release on STRATCOM's website.
 
Kehler currently leads the Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. In that position, Kehler is repsonsible for training and maintaining space and cyberwarfare assets for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, STRATCOM and other various combatant commands around the globe.
 
The change in command will require Kehler to relocate to Offut Air Force Base, Neb., where he will oversee the nation's nuclear missile, bomber and ballistic submarine fleets.
 
Chilton, who has served in the Air Force for 34 years, expressed in the announcement his gratitude to those he has served with over the years and said the time had come "to close this chapter of my career."