US President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated Deborah Lee James, a defense industry executive and former assistant secretary of defense, as Secretary of the Air Force.
The White House announced the nomination in a statement, in which Obama praised James' "strong record of public service and leadership in the private sector makes her uniquely qualified to be my nominee for Secretary of the Air Force."
James is President of the Technology and Engineering Sector at defense contractor Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). She has been an executive with the company since 2004.
James served as assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs from 1993 to 1998.
If confirmed by the Senate, James would be one of the few women ever to serve as the senior civilian leader of an armed services branch, according to local reports.
She will replace Michael Donley, who retired in June.
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