(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Secretary of the Air Force announced on Wednesday, May 29 that Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Sherman has been assigned as the next vice superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Sherman will arrive the week of May 27 and will serve as interim superintendent after Lt. Gen. Richard Clark retires on Saturday, June 1, and until the next superintendent is confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Sherman is currently the Director of Security Forces, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection, at Headquarters U.S Air Force. He graduated from the academy in 1995 and has served in an array of leadership, staff, and command positions at the squadron, group, wing, center, and joint levels.

“It is a true honor and a dream to be assigned and serve our Academy as its vice superintendent,” said Sherman. “I am tremendously excited and humbled to join a team so deeply devoted to the important mission of this premier military and academic institution. I look forward to working side-by-side with our dedicated professionals to further the environment and climate that develops, fosters, and inspires today’s cadets to become tomorrow’s leaders of our Airmen and Guardians.”

The Department of the Air Force is upgrading the vice superintendent post to a general officer position to increase the efficiency of institutional decision-making, provide additional senior leader involvement in high-interest efforts, and sustain an enduring climate of dignity and respect.

Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, Class of 1991, has been nominated to be the Academy’s 22nd Superintendent and is awaiting Senate confirmation. Until then, Sherman will serve as interim superintendent and the academy will continue to operate as normal, to include preparing for the arrival of the Class of 2028 in late June.

“The Academy’s leadership team sets the tone for our future officers during this formative period of their careers,” said U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman. “Whether they commission into the Space Force or the Air Force, all our cadets will benefit from this change, especially given the high-intensity operational demands we face today and will continue to face in the future.”