AFCENT Change of Command
Remarks by GEN David Petraeus
Shaw AFB, SC
5 August 2009 

Well, good morning to you all.  It’s great to be with you this morning as we observe the change of command of Air Forces Central from Lt Gen Gary North to Lt Gen Mike Hostage, which I will perform – and the change of command of 9th Air Force from Lt Gen Gary North to Maj Gen Bill Holland, which my wingman in this ceremony, Gen John Corley will do.   

I should note that, recognizing that I am the first of five speakers this morning, this is one of those occasions during which it’s wise to follow the first rule of public speaking:  nice guys finish fast.  I’ll do my best.   

Again, it’s a pleasure to be here this morning.  The 9th Air Force and AFCENT have for over three years on Lt Gen 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, reconnaissance, and numerous other missions in the CENTCOM area of responsibility.  

AFCENT has played an absolutely vital role in our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in our broader efforts to defeat Al Qaeda and other extremist elements in the region; to build a shared regional air and missile defense network; to deliver forces and supplies in large quantities; to counter piracy, arms smuggling, and the illegal narcotics industry; to develop our infrastructure – especially with great RED HORSE Engineers; and to deliver humanitarian assistance to those in need.  In all of this, AFCENT has done truly magnificent work – and, for it all, Gary North – Nordo – has provided magnificent leadership.  And I was in the theater for just about all of his time at the helm of AFCENT. 

There is an old military saying that amateurs talk tactics; professionals talk logistics.  AFCENT talks – and does – both.  To be sure, AFCENT’s tactical operations – supporting our troopers on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan have been exceptional, and more on those in a moment.   But the logistics accomplishments have been exceptional, too.  Moving the mass formations of troopers and the iron mountain of materiel to perform our missions would be impossible without the phenomenal airlift support provided by the men and women of AFCENT.  In fact, under General North’s leadership, AFCENT crews flew over 100,000 airlift sorties, moved over 2 million personnel, delivered nearly 300,000 tons of cargo, and executed almost 2,000 airdrops throughout the CENTCOM AOR.   

And once our troopers and their equipment have gotten established on the ground, AFCENT aircrews have been ready overhead.  Specter Gunships, Hogs, Strike Eagles, and Vipers have provided exceptional close air support – responding, on Lt Gen North’s watch, to over 12,000 situations in which our troopers were in contact with the enemy and needed assistance from above.   In many cases, that assistance changed the situation and saved troopers’ lives – as our air crews employed our unequalled air power through careful, controlled procedures.  The AFCENT team also provided dozens of Unmanned Aerial Systems to meet the ever-growing demand for unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance coverage.  And whenever a wounded warrior needed to be airlifted out of a combat zone – when the clock on the “Golden Hour” was ticking – AFCENT’s Combat Search and Rescue and MEDEVAC forces were quickly there to fly vital medical missions. 

Of course, at the center of AFCENT’s accomplishments have been the leadership, vision, expertise, and drive of Gary North.  With quiet confidence – founded on extraordinary experience in the cockpit – Nordo has been an absolute superstar.  He was instrumental to the conduct of our two surges in forces and to the surge in ISR assets; he oversaw the improvement of our air bases in Qatar and Oman; he spearheaded bilateral training exercises with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE – all critical engagements vital to CENTCOM theater strategies.  And, above all, he led from the cockpit, the CAOC, and our air bases as AFCENT elements performed vital missions.  Even as he oversaw daily operations and improved our force posture and capabilities, he was also a critical supporter and advocate of training and equipping Iraqi and Afghan air forces, as well as those of our other partners in the region – and of expanding air and missile defenses in the region with our Arabian Gulf partners.   
In short, Gary and his team have provided stellar air support to our ongoing operations, improved our posture and defenses, and strengthened relationships between the US and our regional partners.    

So, Nordo, thank you for all you have done at the controls of Air Forces Central and very well done!   You and AFCENT have done magnificently, and you have more than earned the fourth star you’ll receive when you take command of PACAF!   

I want to say thanks, also, to Shelley North, whom we recognized earlier this morning for her many contributions to a host of programs for the Airmen of Shaw Air Force Base and their families and for her work with the wonderful community of Sumter.  We wish both of you blue skies and a warm Aloha as you head to Hawaii.  Being based at Hickam will be tough duty, we know, and we all appreciate the two of you so selflessly taking on your new duties at that hardship post.  Good luck and Godspeed! 
As we say farewell and well done to Team Nordo, we also welcome Lt Gen Mike Hostage and his wife Kathy to the CENTCOM family.  It is often said at such ceremonies that, “the incoming commander is absolutely the right man to lead this team at this critical time.”  Well, that could not be truer in this case.  Mike comes to AFCENT with a reputation for excellence that is built on very impressive experience – much of it in the Central Command AOR – and on demonstrated leadership and exceptional technical competence.  Mike brings superb leadership skills, enormous energy, and broad operational experience to this post.  He is admirably suited to build on all that AFCENT has achieved under Nordo.  Congratulations, Mike, and welcome back to you and Kathy. 

And, if I could, congratulations as well to Maj Gen Bill Holland as he assumes command of the mighty Ninth Air Force.  Dutch, of course, has been doing impressive work here as the Deputy Commander – spending much of that time forward in Qatar, where he was the invaluable link between Shaw and Al Udeid.  I know that he will continue his forthright, steadfast leadership as the commander of the historic Ninth Air Force.  We wish Dutch and his wife Norma all the best as he assumes his new position. 

As I conclude my remarks, I’d like to take this opportunity to offer a heartfelt thank you to the men and women of Air Forces Central.  It’s not often that I get the chance to thank them so publicly for their exceptional work.  So right here, right now, I want to say well done and thanks to each and every one of them for all that they do in the air and on the ground.  Their work is vital to all that CENTCOM and our components and commands are endeavoring to accomplish.  So, to them – and to all here today – again well done, Air Power, and thank you very much!