“We have a responsibility to lead and advance the integration of the joint force," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin told airmen. The Air Force spent more than a month without a confirmed four-star general at the helm. Chamber leaders are hopeful they'll soon have a solution to hundreds of other stalled nominations. Republicans are pushing for individual votes on the vacant Joint Chiefs posts, while Democrats are looking to advance hundreds of pending promotions. “It may be that we completely break the [Air Force Specialty Code] structure," said Lt. Gen. Caroline Miller, the service's personnel chief. Gen. David Allvin will hold the top role in an unofficial capacity until he is formally confirmed by the Senate. Concerns about a looming government shutdown are pushing military nomination work to the side for now. Gen. Eric Smith took on the role Friday morning in a small ceremony at the Pentagon. After the Senate confirmed three joint chiefs, Democrats are strategizing how to confirm the hundreds of other military nominees held up by Tuberville. Gen. Allvin said at his confirmation hearing that F-16s for Ukraine would become useful for the country after their integration with the broader force. Load More