Obama nominates woman to lead air force
3 Aug 2013 12:20 AM GMT
US president Barack Obama has nominated Deborah Lee James, a defence industry executive and former assistant secretary of defense, to head the air force replacing Michael Donley, who stepped down in June after being in the job for five years.
The White House announced the nomination in a statement issued on Thursday, in which Obama praised James by saying, ‘Deborah’s strong record of public service and leadership in the private sector makes her uniquely qualified to be my nominee for secretary of the Air Force.’ James is president of the technology and engineering sector at defence contractor SAIC.
 She has been an executive with the company since 2004. James also served as assistant secretary ofdefense for reserve affairs from 1993 to 1998. If confirmed, James would be one of the few women ever to serve as the senior civilian leader of an armed services branch.
The White House announced the nomination in a statement issued on Thursday, in which Obama praised James by saying, ‘Deborah’s strong record of public service and leadership in the private sector makes her uniquely qualified to be my nominee for secretary of the Air Force.’ James is president of the technology and engineering sector at defence contractor SAIC.
 She has been an executive with the company since 2004. James also served as assistant secretary ofdefense for reserve affairs from 1993 to 1998. If confirmed, James would be one of the few women ever to serve as the senior civilian leader of an armed services branch.
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