{"id":38128,"date":"2023-09-07T21:10:52","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T21:10:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2023\/09\/07\/navy-gets-new-acting-air-boss\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:15:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:15:04","slug":"navy-gets-new-acting-air-boss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2023\/09\/07\/navy-gets-new-acting-air-boss\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy gets new (acting) Air Boss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Naval Air Forces received a new commanding officer Thursday during a ceremony aboard Naval Air Station North Island, California, albeit a leader serving in an acting capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rear Adm. George Wikoff relieved Vice Adm. Kenneth Whitesell as the commander of Navy aviation, but is only serving as the acting \u201cAir Boss\u201d because his promotion to vice admiral and nomination to be the next commander of U.S. 5th Fleet is held up along with hundreds of other military confirmations in the U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rear Adm. Daniel Cheever<\/a> was nominated to be the next Naval Air Forces commander and to get his third star in March, but his confirmation is also being held up by Sen. Tommy Tuberville\u2019s blockade on military confirmations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whitesell took command of the community in October 2020 and oversaw the initial deployment of a carrier air wing that featured the F-35C Lightning II jet, the CMV-22B Osprey and the MQ-8C Fire Scout drone, according to the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt has been my honor to serve among the men and women who give Naval Aviation its reputation of excellence, professionalism and quality,\u201d Whitesell said at Thursday\u2019s ceremony, according to a Navy release. \u201cOur community\u2019s legacy, and the legacy of our greater Navy, continues with you. I\u2019m proud of all that we\u2019ve done, and even more proud of what\u2019s to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t