KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard M. Clark has been nominated to become commander of Third Air Force and promotion to lieutenant general.

Clark currently serves as commander, Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and joint functional component commander for Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

Clark also commands Task Force 204, which oversees Air Force nuclear bomber and reconnaissance in support of U.S. Strategic Command.

If his nomination is approved by Congress, Clark would replace Lt. Gen. Timothy Ray, who took command of air components of U.S. European and Africa commands in July 2015.

Clark is a 1986 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a command pilot with 4,200 flight hours, primarily in the B-1 bomber, according to his official biography.

He served in Iraq from 2008-2009 as director of the Joint Interagency Task Force - Iraq, and for two years as senior defense official and defense attache in Cairo.

This would be Clark’s first assignment in Europe.

news@stripes.com

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