JANUARY 21, 2021 – John P. Roth will serve as the Acting Secretary of the Air Force as of Jan. 20, until the president nominates and the Senate confirms a permanent replacement.
Roth succeeds Barbara Barrett, who served as the 25th Secretary of the Air Force from Oct. 18, 2019, until Jan. 20.
Roth has served as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller since January 2018. From May 2019 to December 2020, he also performed the duties of Under Secretary of the Air Force, a role he held from June to October 2019.
“It is a privilege to serve Airmen and Guardians as the Acting Secretary of the Air Force,” Roth said. “Protecting the nation is a solemn responsibility; one that the U.S. Air and Space Forces execute daily without fail. I look forward to working side-by-side with Gen. (Charles Q. Brown, Jr.) and Gen. (John W.) Raymond to ensure our Airmen and Guardians have the training and resources required to meet national security requirements and keep America safe.
“I’m eager to continue the momentum Secretary Barrett and these two great military leaders put into motion as we work together to accelerate change for our Air Force and continue building America’s Space Force,” he said.
As acting secretary, Roth leads the Department of the Air Force, comprised of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. He is responsible for organizing, training and equipping Air and Space Forces and for the welfare of 697,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian Airmen and Guardians and their families.
Mr. Roth served as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller from January 2018 to May 2020. As the Department’s comptroller and chief financial officer, he was the principal advisor on all financial matters to ensure the effective and efficient utilization of the Department’s financial resources. Mr. Roth oversaw the budgeting, auditing, cost estimating and financial operations that support Air Force priorities, in accordance with Congressional, Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Air Force Direction.
From June to October 2019 and May to December 2020, Mr. Roth performed the duties of the Under Secretary of the Air Force.
Mr. Roth entered the Senior Executive Service in 1990 and has held several key leadership positions within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). Most recently, he served as the Deputy Comptroller (Program and Budget), the most senior career financial manager in the Department of Defense, responsible for the development and execution of a $550 billion annual budget. In addition, from January 2017 through May 2017, Mr. Roth performed the duties of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer. He is a past President of the American Society of Military Comptrollers.
By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs