Senate confirms Donley to be next secretary of Air Force

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Michael B. Donley will be the next secretary of the Air Force based on an Oct. 2 Senate confirmation vote here.

Secretary Donley had been designated by the president to begin serving as acting secretary on June 21, 2008.

The former director of administration and management for the Defense Department, he was nominated for the secretary of the Air Force position and provided testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee July 22. Senate confirmation now clears the way for Secretary Donley's formal appointment by the president.

"Our way ahead includes a recommitment to upholding the high standards that have always been the Air Force's hallmark and for our core values -- integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do -- to underpin every Airmen at all times," Secretary Donley said.

Following appointment by the president, Secretary Donley will be sworn-in as the 22nd Air Force secretary.

Secretary Donley has more than 30 years of experience in the national security community, including service in the Senate, White House and the Pentagon. In his most recent position, he was responsible for Washington Headquarters Services, a 1,300-employee entity that oversees management of the Pentagon and DOD services within the National Capitol Region, and the Pentagon Force Protection Agency.

Secretary Donley, who was acting secretary of the Air Force for seven months in 1993 and served as the service's top financial officer from 1989 to 1993, also served on the National Security Council and was a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee in the early 1980s.

He served in the Army's 18th Airborne Corps and 5th Special Forces Group from 1972 to 1975. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in international relations from the University of Southern California.