The Air Force chief of staff announces the assignment of the following general officers:

Maj. Gen. Christopher D. Miller, director, plans, policy and strategy, J-5, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., to special assistant to the vice chief of staff, U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Maj. Gen. Lawrence A. Stutzriem, director, chief of staff of the Air Force Strategic Studies Group (Checkmate), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., director, plans, policy and strategy, J-5, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Brig. Gen. Byron C. Hepburn, commander, Air Force Medical Support Agency, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C., to deputy surgeon general, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.

Col. James J. Carroll, who has been selected for the rank of brigadier general, deputy assistant surgeon general, modernization, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Falls Church, Va., to commander, Air Force Medical Support Agency, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.

Director of National Reconnaissance Office Named:

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has appointed, with concurrence of the Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair, retired Air Force Gen. Bruce Carlson as the 17th director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

Gen. Carlson served as commander, Air Force Materiel Command before retiring from active duty on Jan. 1, 2009. His prior assignments include commander, 8th Air Force and Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command.