Yes, I do. I spent many years in the business, but on the "other end" from the weapons controller in the air and at the operational level. I also spent many years in flight operations, operations planning, and execution... including in war and peace and at various levels, worldwide as well I might add.
I'm not saying weapons controllers don't do an important and skillful job. They do, and it does require good decision making and judgment. That does not detract from her accomplishments, whatever they may be.
What I am saying is, she probably has limited experience in working at and directing all levels and types of flying operations which after all is what the Air Force mission is all about. The PACAF Commander can't afford to be totally reliant on her staff for judgment and directions when making crucial decisions of which she has limited experience and knowledge. He/she needs to lead from experience and know when to raise the BS Flag and when and how to do the smart, bold, and decisive things that work. That's all I'm saying.
Why put somebody at the top of PACAF who isn't the most qualified to do the job? I am pretty sure she probably isn't the best pick but was likely chosen for other factors such as her gender because her other background doesn't indicate otherwise. This is more than just some political position to be filled by some Commissar, lawyer, or anybody with a Politically Correct resume. It requires somebody with a lot of operational experience in tactical and strategic operations of all kinds who can do it in a pressure cooker and against a real enemy if necessary. Only experience can develop that.
In something like this, diversity isn't our strength - but relying on it to hire the proper people can be our downfall. This pick was done to promote a diversity agenda and nobody is denying it. It is even in the article lede.
“she probably has limited experience in working at and directing all levels and types of flying operations which after all is what the Air Force mission is all about.”
Forget all the Pentagon staff assignments- do you call this limited experience?
She is currently the 3-star Vice Commander of what we used to call “TAC”, now Air Combat Command at Langley (fighter pilot central). Before TAC, she was the deputy at what we used to call CENTAF, the air component of USCENTCOM. She has commanded units from squadron to group to expeditionary wing. She has filled all the squares a non-rated officer can fill. I too abhor a token but this officer’s resume to be PACAF Cinc would not cause any adverse comment if she was a man.