In an announcement made May 5 local time, the Pentagon said Shoemaker would be promoted to lieutenant general and, if confirmed, would also take on the air component command roles for the U.N. Command and the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, as well as command of the 7th Air Force.
Shoemaker is currently deputy commander of the 9th Air Force (Air Forces Central). According to his official Air Force biography, he oversees command and control of air operations and the development and execution of contingency plans in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
He has previously served in South Korea. From 2005 to 2006, Shoemaker was responsible for standardization and evaluation at the 8th Operations Group at Kunsan Air Base. From 2017 to 2018, he commanded the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan.
The post is currently held by Lt. Gen. David R. Iverson, who concurrently serves as USFK deputy commander, air component commander for the U.N. Command and the Combined Forces Command, and commander of the 7th Air Force.
The nomination has been announced, but Senate confirmation is still required.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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