Reagan Appoints New Secretary of Air Force
Associated Press
WASHINGTON —
Russell A. Rourke, secretary of the Air Force since December, has resigned, and President Reagan has chosen Undersecretary Edward C. Aldridge Jr. to succeed him, the White House announced Tuesday.
Defense Department spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Chris Baumann said that Rourke, 53, expressed “deep regret” and cited “extraordinary personal and private circumstances” for his decision. Aldridge, 47, is a former vice president of the System Planning Corp. and served in the Defense Department during the Ford Administration.
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