On August 10th, General Mark Welsh will become the next US Air Force Chief of Staff.  His Senate confirmation had previously been on hold.  Welsh, who is popular for his well-delivered inspirational messages and straight-shooting, will replace retiring General Norton Schwartz.  The Air Force Times said one of General Welsh’s first jobs will be to “repair” the damage done to the Air Force’s relationship with Congress — under Schwartz, who has reportedly been unpopular both with Congress and with some in the Pentagon:

Welsh faces the immediate challenge of repairing the Air Force’s badly damaged relationship with Congress as well as preparing for the possibility of additional spending cuts if Congress fails to agree on how to reduce the deficit by the end of the year.

General Welsh will be the fourth USAFA grad to be Chief of Staff, having graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 1976 (Schwartz had graduated in 1973.)