Korea Air War Boss Tapped for No. 2 Seat in Paradise

Lt. Gen. David R. Iverson, now serving as deputy commander of U.S. Forces Korea and commander of Seventh Air Force, has been nominated to become the deputy commander of Pacific Air Forces at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. If the Senate signs off, Iverson would step in for Lt. Gen. Laura Lenderman at PACAF headquarters in Hawaii, a move that keeps the command’s spotlight firmly on Indo-Pacific readiness as the regional security picture keeps shifting.

Pentagon Names Iverson

The Pentagon rolled out Iverson’s nomination in a Monday release, tapping him as the choice to serve as PACAF’s No. 2 officer. As reported by Stars and Stripes, the Pentagon said he would keep his three-star rank if confirmed. The assignment would bring a senior leader with fresh Korea experience back to PACAF’s Hawaii headquarters.

Iverson’s Career And Credentials

Iverson has held the dual roles of deputy commander of U.S. Forces Korea and commander of Seventh Air Force since January 2024, according to his U.S. Air Force biography. That biography notes he earned his commission through Air Force ROTC at the University of Virginia in 1991 and wrapped up flight training in 1993. An F-15E pilot, Iverson is a command pilot with more than 5,400 flight hours, including roughly 1,500 combat hours.

What PACAF Oversees

"The command has approximately 45,000 military and civilian personnel," an Air Force fact sheet states, and PACAF is headquartered at Hickam AFB on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The same fact sheet says the command operates about 340 fighter and attack aircraft spread across bases in Hawaii, Alaska, Japan, Guam and South Korea. It is that sizable force structure Iverson would help oversee if he moves into the deputy commander role.

Next Steps

The nomination now heads to the Senate for confirmation, with the military appointment subject to Senate review, according to Yonhap News Agency. Stars and Stripes reports that the Pentagon has not yet announced Lt. Gen. Lenderman’s next assignment. Until a confirmation vote is scheduled and completed, Iverson will continue in his current U.S. Forces Korea and Seventh Air Force posts.