Senate confirms Gen. Fraser as next vice chief of staff

Published Oct. 3, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- General William M. Fraser III, a command pilot, will be the Air Force's next vice chief of staff, based on a Senate confirmation vote, which occurred Oct. 2.

Now the president must offer the official appointment to the general before he can assume his new position.

General Fraser, who now serves as the assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will assume the position of Air Force vice chief of staff on Oct. 9. This position was held by General Duncan McNabb, who assumed command of U.S. Transportation Command in September.

In his current position, General Fraser oversees matters requiring close personal control by the chairman, with particular focus on international relations and politico-military concerns.

His command experience includes the 509th Operations Group at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., and the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La.; director of operations, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas; vice commander, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.

General Fraser has extensive wartime, contingency and humanitarian relief operational experience. He has also served as chief of the Nuclear Requirements Cell at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, and chief of staff for U.S. Strategic Command.

General Fraser attended Texas A&M University and graduated in 1974. He is an alumnus of Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va., Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va., and the Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. He has also attended Executive Program for Russian and U.S. General Officers and the Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security both at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.