The government said Monday that Sung Il-hwan, an Air Force lieutenant general, has been tapped as the new chief of staff of the Air Force.

The 58-year-old Sung, if approved at the Cabinet meeting slated for Tuesday, will succeed Park Jong-heon, who has served as Air Force chief since September 2010.

Sung, who served as chief of the 17th Fighter Wing, principal of the Korea Air Force Academy, and chief of the Air Force Education and Training Command, is known as an expert in Air Force operations and education and training. He also has over 2,500 flying hours.

"Lt. Gen. Sung is credited with considerable strategic insight and an operational command capability in preparation for future security environment," said a defense official.(Yonhap)