Air Force Brig. Gen. James M. Kowalski has been named interim commander of Global Strike Command, the new major command that will be in charge of the Air Force’s nuclear mission.

Kowalski will head the command while the Air Force looks for a permanent location for it, said Air Force spokeswoman Capt. Elizabeth Aptekar.

The command is expected to become initially operational in September 2009, but that does not mean its permanent location will have been chosen by then, Aptekar said.

Once the command has a permanent home, it will be headed by a three-star general officer, she said.