Editor’s note: Update 9:25 a.m. with change of command ceremony information and recent photo.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz responds to questions at the Pentagon July 24, during a media availability to discuss his time as Chief of Staff. Schwartz finishes a four-year term in office shortly. U.S. Air Force photo/James Varhegyi

Staff report

The Boston Globe reports General Norton A. Schwartz, chief of staff of the Air Force and member of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff is asking for cuts in the nation’s nuclear weapons arsenal.

“We have more backup systems in terms of weapons systems than we actually have deployed,” Schwartz told the Globe in a recent interview. “Some of that is a reasonable hedge [but] there is probably room for reductions.”

Schwartz has served four years as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of 680,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas.

As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the general and other service chiefs function as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President.

In a recent media availablitity, Schwartz said he believes the Air Force will continue to thrive despite fiscal challenges.

General Mark Welsh has been confirmed as the new Air Force chief of staff.  Welsh will take over as chief of staff at an Aug. 10 change of command ceremony, reports Stars and Stripes.