Barrett among six top Air Force officials to step down

Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett will resign from her role ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next week, the service announced Tuesday.

Barrett is one of six top Air Force officials to leave prior to the new administration, with a retirement ceremony set for Thursday at Joint-Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., the service said.

Also to depart are Will Roper, assistant secretary for acquisition, technology and logistics; acting Undersecretary Shon Manasco; Comptroller John Roth; General Counsel Thomas Ayres; and John Henderson, assistant secretary of installations, environment, and energy. Their last day will be Jan. 19, a day prior to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony.

The incoming Biden administration has not yet announced who would fill the Air Force’s top roles.

The Senate in October 2019 confirmed Barrett as the fourth woman to be the top civilian leading the Air Force after Heather Wilson left to become president of the University of Texas at El Paso.

It is typical for politically appointed officials to step down in the changeover of administrations, but sometimes there are exceptions.

In December, Defense News reported that the Biden administration was considering keeping Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy in his role for the time being, though it is unknown whether a delayed National Guard response to violent riots at the Capitol last week has killed that idea.