AF names new weapons program executive officer

  • Published
  • By Chrissy Cuttita
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Brig. Gen. Scott Jansson was selected to be Maj. Gen. Kenneth Merchant's successor as the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Weapons, Armament Directorate here, according to a Jan. 10 Air Force senior leader announcement.

Jansson is currently the commander of Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, a field activity of the Defense Logistics Agency headquartered in Richmond, Va., and operating at 18 other sites across the U.S. DLA Aviation is the primary source of supply for more than 1.3 million repair parts and operating supply items for DoD's aviation warfighters.

There will be no change of command ceremony for the general's move to Eglin in April.

Merchant was selected to become the Director of Global Reach Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. In that position, he will be responsible to the Air Force acquisition executive for airlift, air refueling, training and special operations programs.

A 2012 Air Force Organizational Excellence award highlighted the success of Merchant's leadership of the former Air Armament Center and the closing of the center's historic legacy under Air Force Material Command. In July 2012 the center was deactivated and the general continued to serve here as the Air Force PEO for Weapons concurrently reporting to the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C. and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Merchant arrived at Eglin and took command of the AAC in August 2011. During his first six months as the senior leader of the installation, the base welcomed the beginning of F-35 Lightning II deliveries at the 33rd Fighter Wing while also bedding down the Army's 7th Special Forces Group near Duke Field. Successes of 2011 included an "Excellent" ORI rating from the AFMC IG team, the AFMC Commander-In-Chief Installation Excellence Award, the Association of Defense Communities' DoD Installation of the Year Award, and the 46th Test Wing's AF Outstanding Unit Award for the 13th consecutive year.

The Armament Directorate The directorate is responsible for enhancing worldwide Air Force combat capability, effectiveness, aircrew survivability, and readiness through joint development, test, procurement, deployment and sustainment of air delivered weapon systems.