What’s next for the first woman to lead U.S. Transportation Command
Once her tenure as chief of U.S. Transportation Command comes to a close, Gen. Jackie Van Ovost is planning to put much of her energy into helping build out America’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) talent pipeline, with a sharp focus on empowering minorities.
“I’ll do community work, and likely, some sort of national component,” Van Ovost, the first female officer to ever lead Transcom, told DefenseScoop on Tuesday.
During an exclusive interview on the sidelines of AFA’s Air, Space and Cyber conference, the head of the combatant command shared new details about both her and Transcom’s plans for what’s to come.
The discussion happened on the same day that Congress hosted a confirmation hearing for the official nominated to be her successor, Air Force Gen. Randall Reed.
“There’s a process for the committee to vote out and then the full Senate to vote out. So, the earliest they could do that is next week, and then they go off on recess. If they do it next week, we’ll have a change of command the following week on Oct. 4. If they don’t do it, then they’ll do it after the first voting session, which is probably the third week of November, because they’re out in October. So, it’ll be about 45 or 50 days later,” Van Ovost explained.
In her view, Reed is a “mobility giant” with the right international and industry experience — and temperament — for Transcom’s high-stakes missions.
“He’s going to be fantastic for the U.S. Transportation Command. And I know he’s just as passionate as I am about the contested environment and how we’re going to have to operate. So I’m looking forward to cheering him on in the stands,” Van Ovost said.
As for her own immediate plans after she leaves Transcom and retires from the military, the Air Force command pilot hopes to take a little time to rest, recharge and connect with her family.
“As I think about the next portions of my life, I could tell you something that has been a passion of mine for 40 years — [encompasses] STEM and minorities,” she said.
“Our nation needs more STEM graduates. It is how we advance, and it’s how we will win. This is a whole-of-nation fight, and China’s already in that whole-nation fight. They already produce more STEM graduates than we produce high school graduates. How are we going to win? And so in particular, I’m focused on minorities, because I really do think that that’s the diversity of America and I think they’re underrepresented in and a very capable population that we can actually mobilize against the problem,” the commander told DefenseScoop.
