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Release
Immediate Release

Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on the Nomination of General John Hyten as STRATCOM Commander

Sept. 9, 2016

I want to congratulate Gen. John Hyten on his nomination by President Obama to be commander of U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM).

I've known and worked closely with Gen. Hyten for several years, and over the course of his three-and-a-half decades in the Air Force, he has been a model for generations of men and women in uniform. And he's done so in a wide range of roles: from commanding airmen at the squadron, group, wing, and major command levels, to leveraging America's space assets in support of troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, to helping our military confront 21st century threats in new domains like space and cyberspace. Armed with 35 years of strong managerial experience, deep technical expertise, and visionary leadership, Gen. Hyten is the perfect choice to lead this critical command  in the years to come, as the men and women of STRATCOM carry out missions essential to our national defense - including sustaining nuclear deterrence through a safe, secure, and effective triad, helping defend our networks and deter malicious actors in cyberspace, and preparing for the possibility of a conflict that extends into space.

I have every confidence that Gen. Hyten will bring to STRATCOM the same high caliber of focus and dedication to defending our country, and taking care of those who do so, that Adm. Cecil Haney has brought to the command over the last three years. I'm grateful to Adm. Haney for his long and distinguished career of service, and I hope the Senate will act swiftly on Gen.  Hyten's nomination.