President Obama last week nominated retired Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz to be undersecretary of energy for nuclear security. In this position, Klotz would also lead the National Nuclear Security Administration, which is charged with maintaining the safety, security, and effectiveness of the US nuclear weapons stockpile. Obama announced his intent to nominate Klotz on Aug. 1; that same day, Klotz’s nomination reached the Senate, according to the Senate’s website. Senators must approve the nomination. Klotz retired from the Air Force in March 2011 after some four decades in uniform. In his final assignment, Klotz led Air Force Global Strike Command for nearly two years; he was the then-newly activated command’s first boss. Before that, he was assistant vice chief of staff. He currently serves as a senior fellow for strategic studies and arms control at the Council on Foreign Relations. If the Senate gives the OK, Klotz would fill the vacant post created with the resignation of Thomas D’Agostino in January. Bruce Held has been the acting undersecretary and acting NNSA administrator.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.