Former Midlander confirmed for Pentagon post

After many months of waiting, former XCOR Aerospace President and CEO John “Jay” Gibson II has been confirmed for a post at the Pentagon.

The Senate on Tuesday voted 91-7 to approve Gibson as deputy chief management officer of the Department of Defense. The deputy chief management officer, or DCMO, was established by Congress in 2007 as an undersecretary of defense-level position, according to the office’s website. In 2008, the DoD formally chartered the Office of the DCMO to better synchronize, integrate and coordinate the business operations of the department and ensure optimal alignment in support of the warfighting mission.

President Donald Trump’s administration announced Gibson’s nomination on June 16, and it was formally sent to the Senate on June 19.

In the past, Gibson had served as the assistant secretary of the Air Force for financial management/comptroller and CFO, as well as deputy undersecretary of defense for management reform, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram article. He took his position with XCOR in March 2015.

XCOR is a Midland-headquartered aerospace company that develops rocket engine systems and components. Its most notable project is development of the Lynx spaceplane, a reusable spacecraft that takes off and lands horizontally from a runway. XCOR is located at Midland Spaceport Business Park at Midland International Air & Space Port.