North to become PACAF commander

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Carbajal
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The Pacific Air Forces will be led by a new commander Aug. 19. 

Lt. Gen. Gary L. North will assume command of the Pacific Air Forces from Gen. Howie Chandler during a ceremony at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. 

The Senate Armed Services Committee confirmed his promotion to general and appointment as the next PACAF commander. 

As the commander of PACAF, North will be responsible for Air Force activities covering more than half the globe in a command that supports 55,500 Air Force personnel serving principally in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Japan and South Korea. 

North is the commander of the 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central Command at Shaw AFB, S.C. In this position, he is responsible for five wings in the eastern United States and three direct reporting units with more than 350 aircraft and 24,000 active-duty and civilian personnel. 

Prior to his current assignment, North was the U.S. Pacific Command director of operations at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. 

He has also served as the Deputy Director of Joint Matters at Headquarters U.S. Air Force and the commander of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan AB, South Korea. 

North is a command pilot with more than 4,100 flight hours with the F-4, F-15 and F-16. 

Chandler has been selected to become the vice chief of staff of the Air Force at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.