New leaders take command of re-designated USAFCENT Command, Ninth Air Force

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  • U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Gen. David Petraeus, Commander, United States Central Command, and Gen. John D.W. Corley, Commander, Air Combat Command, presided over the Headquarters 9th Air Force and United States Air Forces Central Change of Command and Re-designation Ceremony at 9 a.m. Aug. 5 in Hangar 1200 here. 

During the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, Commander, 9AF/USAFCENT, relinquished command, followed by the unit's re-designation into two commands, USAFCENT and 9 AF. 

"It truly is a wonderful day for a change of command and all the things that come with that," General North said. "For Shelley and for me it's an opportunity to say thank you once again for your exceptional efforts over the years and for General and Mrs. Hostage, it's a day of excitement, to be able to step into command once again, to lead our Air Force and Coalition Airmen in the joint fight in Iraq and Afghanistan and to lead our AFCENT engagements in General Petraeus' AOR, and to have the honor to lead America's finest Airmen as they do our Nation's bidding." 

Lt. Gen. Gilmary M. Hostage III then assumed command of USAFCENT Command. 

"Thanks General Corley, to you and the Air Force for the confidence in me to put me forward for this position, and to General Petraeus for having the faith to give me a shot at it. I will let neither of you down and I'm looking forward to the opportunity," General Hostage said. "USAFCENT family, I am really looking forward to joining you. You are the pinnacle of what warriors are. What you are doing is vital to Airmen, vital to all our warriors in any uniform, and I endeavor to join you in that fight." 

A new Headquarters 9th Air Force was also activated, and Maj. Gen. William L. Holland assumed command. 

"To the men and women of 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central Command, our job sounds simple: to ensure that we are ready to answer our Nation's call," General Holland said. "But in the dynamic world that we live in today, that simple statement requires our utmost focus. Our people deserve, and we must demand and ensure that they are provided the very best equipment, training, guidance and leadership that we possibly can give them. My request to you is to try to make yourselves and your units a little bit better every day, and my commitment to you is that together, we will take care of our people first, and the mission always." 

USAFCENT is the air component of United States Central Command, a regional unified command. 

USAFCENT is responsible for air operations, either unilaterally or in concert with coalition partners, and developing contingency plans in support of national objectives for USCENTCOM's 20-nation area of responsibility in Southwest Asia. Additionally, USAFCENT manages an extensive supply and equipment prepositioning program at several AOR sites. 

"Ninth Air Force and AFCENT have for three and a half years, under Lt. Gen. Gary North's watch, succeeded admirably, in providing our forces downrange the combat power needed to perform the entire gamut of air operations from close air support; air transport; airdrop and ground maintenance; to command and control; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and numerous other missions in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility," General Petraeus said. "AFCENT has played an absolutely vital role in our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan." 

Ninth Air Force controls Air Combat Command fighter forces based on the east coast of the United States and is responsible for overseeing the management of six wings and three direct reporting units, as well as ensuring the operational readiness of 14 designated units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. 

"For six decades, the Airmen here, and others before them, have fought bravely in my mind," General Corley said. "They've stood shoulder to shoulder with our Soldiers, with our Sailors, with Marines and Coast Guardsmen, to do what? To hone the warfighting skills of 9th Air Force. For what? For defending freedom, defending our homeland, and defending our great way of life." 

The temporary separation between the stateside numbered air force and its warfighting component to U.S. Central Command will allow the USAFCENT commander to focus solely on USAFCENT duties, and the 9th Air Force commander to focus on oversight of stateside wings. When contingency operations subside, the Air Force will reset to the peacetime configuration of 9 AF/USAFCENT here. This re-designation is also part of the proposal Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz announced in May in the Air Force news article, "Air Force officials mull 9th Air Force, AFCENT separation" at http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123150753. 

General North was confirmed by the Senate to receive his fourth star and will become Commander, Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command; and Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.