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TRANSCOM commander to retire (4/30)

The U.S. Transportation Command has issued the following news release, dated April 29. The release also is available on the agency’s web site HERE Next United States Transportation Command leader nominated By Bob Fehringer, United States Transportation Command Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) - Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, commander United States Transportation Command, informed members of his command about his retirement and the nomination of his successor, Air Force Lt. Gen. William M. Fraser III, during a commander’s call, April 23, in the base theater. Fraser currently serves as assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is slated to become the USTRANSCOM commander Nov. 14. Fraser’s nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate Armed Services Committee. “The plan will be to do this in an orderly, disciplined way,” Schwartz said. “We’ll prepare General Fraser for his confirmation hearing, which will probably occur in June. “Bottom line is it ain’t over until it’s over,” Schwartz added. “We are fully committed to maintaining the pace until the last hour, the last minute. The key thing is that both Suzie (Mrs. Schwartz) and I want you to know we are going to sprint to the finish and would very much like you to sprint along with us.” Fraser entered the Air Force in 1974 as a distinguished graduate of the Texas A&M University ROTC program. His operational assignments include duty as a T-37 instructor pilot and evaluator; B-52 aircraft commander, instructor and evaluator; and deputy commander of a B-1 operations group. Fraser was the first commander of the 509th Operations Group, then served as the vice wing commander for the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. He commanded the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., and 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Fraser’s staff duties include tours on the Air Staff, Joint Staff and Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. He also has served as chief of the Nuclear Requirements Cell at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and chief of staff for U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. ###