Former wing commander assumes command of 13th AF

  • Published
  • By Capt. Genieve David
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  The reins of command of 13th Air Force were passed from Lt. Gen. Chip Utterback to Lt. Gen. Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle during a ceremony held here Sept. 2.

Carlisle assumed command of the "Jungle Air Force" after completing almost two years at the Pentagon as the Director of Legislative Liaison in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

Utterback is retiring from the Air Force after more than 33 years of service. The general and his wife Sandy will return to their home state of Texas.

The Pacific Air Forces Commander, Gen. Gary North, presided over the ceremony. He applauded 13th Air Force's accomplishments during Utterback's tenure and said the organization's future was bright with General Carlisle as the commander following Utterback.

"General Carlisle's breadth and depth of experience, and leadership abilities, are exactly the reason we have brought him to command 13th Air Force," North said. "He has a tremendous record of leadership and will continue the legacy of 13th Air Force."

Carlisle served previously as part of the Pacific Air Forces team, spending seven of his 31 years in the Air Force in Japan and Alaska. The general said he was impressed by the many accomplishments of 13th Air Force over a 66 year history.

"We will continue to build upon the tremendous foundation of our predecessors, and we will honor the legacy or those who have gone before us to live up to their standards of service, excellence and integrity," Carlisle said.

Carlisle was accompanied at the change of command by his wife Gillian. He was promoted to lieutenant general during a Sept. 1 ceremony by North in the PACAF headquarters building.

The general is a command pilot with more than 3,400 hours in the T-38 and AT-38 Talon, the YF-110, the YF-113, and the F-15 Eagle. He earned his bachelor's degree in math at the U.S. Air force Academy in 1978 and later a master's degree in business administration from Golden State University in San Francisco.

As the former Director of Legislative Liaison for the Air Force, Carlisle provided liaison between the Air Force and Congress on issues such as legislative and constituent inquiries, programs, and weapons systems.

As the 13th Air Force commander, Carlisle is responsible for the command, control and execution of air, space and information operations capabilities across the U.S. Pacific Command area of operations, excluding the Korean theater. He serves as the Joint Forces Air Component Commander and, when designated, as the Commander, Air Force Forces, during operations or contingency.

He also provides oversight and direction to the 15th Airlift Wing here; the 36th Wing, Andersen AFB, Guam; the 1st Air Support Operations Group, Fort Lewis, Wash.; and 12 additional units in Japan, Alaska and California. 

(From May 2005 to June 2007, Carlisle was the 3rd Wing commander at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska)