Bussiere to Retire After Vice Chief Nomination Was Withdrawn

Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, announced his intention to retire in a social media post on Sept. 30, a reversal from just a few months ago, when he was poised to become Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Bussiere was nominated for the Vice Chief role in July, but the nomination was withdrawn in September, with some speculating at the time that the withdrawal could be in anticipation of changing the nomination to Chief of Staff after Gen. David W. Allvin’s abrupt retirement announcement. Instead, President Donald Trump nominated retired Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach for the CSAF role on Sept. 29.

The Chief of Staff job is a four-year assignment by statute, but Allvin will retire after just two years in the role or as soon as his successor is confirmed by the Senate. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said last week the Air Force will “not not have a Chief,” so Allvin will presumably stay on until his successor is confirmed.

“After much reflection, and with a heavy heart … I have made the difficult decision to request retirement from the United States Air Force for personal and family reasons,” Bussiere wrote in the Sept. 30 Facebook post.

Adding that he was “deeply honored to have been nominated for Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and profoundly grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the President,” Bussiere said he looks forward to “finding new ways to support our Air Force, our national defense, and the incredible people who make it all possible.”

Bussiere, who flew B-2 bombers and F-15 fighters and served 39 years in uniform, thanked “all who have supported me throughout this journey.”  

Bussiere’s successor as head of Air Force Global Strike Command, Lt. Gen. Stephen Davis, has already been confirmed to take over the command as soon as Bussiere departs. The exact timing of his exit has not been disclosed.

When Trump nominated Bussiere for the Vice Chief job in July, it was to fill the vacancy created in February after Gen. James C. Slife was fired. Slife had served only 14 months in the position and was relieved in a purge of a number of senior officers dismissed from across the armed forces. Although no reason was given by the White House, Pentagon officials said Slife was tied to the prior administration’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, which Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth set out to reverse upon taking office. Since then, Air Force Director of Staff Lt. Gen. Scott Pleus has been performing the Vice Chief’s duties.

No clear front-runner has emerged to take the Vice Chief role. Many of the Air Force’s four-star generals are either new to their current jobs or approaching retirement. As in the case of Wilsbach, who was on the verge of fully retiring, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, who Trump selected to replace Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr., it is also possible a retired general officer could be brought back to fill that role.  

Pleus is also a strong candidate: A 30-year veteran fighter pilot who flew F-16s and F-35s, he has already performed those duties and previously held joint command assignments in Alaska and Korea. Like Wilsbach, who spent much of his career in the Pacific theater, Pleus has heavy experience in that part of the world.