Lt. Gen. Choi Cha-gyu has been appointed as the new Air Force chief of staff and promoted to a four-star general to replace the outgoing commander, the defense ministry said Friday.

   President Park Geun-hye will formerly appoint Choi as the new Air Force commander after Cabinet approval to replace the incumbent chief Gen. Sung Il-hwan, who retires on April 17, the ministry said.

   The 58-year-old has formerly served as Air Force operational commander, deputy chief and director of the fighter program at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

   "Choi is a professional of defense policy and the advanced weapons program, with expertise in commanding aerial operations to maintain firm military readiness," the ministry said in a press release. (Yonhap)