Gen. Robinson to head NORTHCOM, will be first female to run COCOM

Defense Secretary Ash Carter has nominated Gen. Lori Robinson to be the next head of the U.S. Northern Command, the Pentagon said Friday morning.

Robinson will be the first woman to ever head a combatant command, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said in a tweet announcing Robinson's nomination.

Robinson is now commander of Pacific Air Forces. Before heading PACAF, Robinson was vice commander of Air Combat Command. She is a senior air battle manager with more than 900 flight hours in the E-3B/C and E-8C aircraft.

If confirmed by the Senate, she would replace Adm. Bill Gortney, who held the position since December 2014.

DEFENSE NEWS

USAF General Robinson Likely as Next NORTHCOM Head

Seen as a rising star in the Air Force, Robinson has shot through the ranks, adding a star a year from 2012 through 2014.

In June 2012, just before current Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh took office, Robinson was a two-star serving as deputy commander, US Air Forces Central Command; less than a year later, she pinned on her third star in May 2013 and became vice commander, Air Combat Command.

Then in October 2014, she pinned on her fourth star and took over as commander, Pacific Air Forces. With the PACAF assignment, Robinson became the first US female four-star to command combat forces.

MAJ Ken Landgren SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt Obom Bowen CPT (Join to see) LTC Stephen F. SSG Warren Swan PO2 Ed C. SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SSgt (Join to see) CPT L SSP5 Michael Rathbun CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SGM Mikel Dawson CSM Charles Hayden SGT Benjamin Lindsey SPC Andrew Griffin d SN Greg Wright TSgt Hunter Logan