News>Retirement, appointment ceremonies to honor new, outgoing AF chiefs of staff
Photos
Gen. Norton Schwartz was surprised with applause from hundreds of Airmen lining the Pentagon hallway, Aug. 8, 2012, as he departed the building for the final time as the Air Force Chief of Staff. Schwartz will retire in a ceremony Friday, after serving 39 years in the Air Force, the last four years as the Air Force's senior uniformed leader. (U.S. Air Force photo by
Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Gen. Norton Schwartz embraces his wife Suzie while departing from the Pentagon Aug. 8, 2012, for the final time as the Air Force Chief of Staff.Schwartz will retire in a ceremony Friday, after serving 39 years in the Air Force, the last four years as the Air Force's senior uniformed leader. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Gen. Norton Schwartz bids farewell to his Airmen while departing from the Pentagon Aug. 8, 2012, for the final time as the Air Force Chief of Staff. Schwartz will retire in a ceremony Friday, after serving 39 years in the Air Force, the last four years as the Air Force's senior uniformed leader. (U.S.Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Gen. Norton Schwartz was surprised with applause from hundreds of Airmen lining the Pentagon hallway, Aug. 8, 2012, as he departed the building for the final time as the AirForce Chief of Staff. Schwartz will retire in a ceremony Friday, after serving 39 years in the Air Force, the last four years as the Air Force's senior uniformed leader. (U.S. Air Force photo by
Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
8/9/2012 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A retirement ceremony honoring Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and an appointment ceremony for Gen. Mark A. Welsh III will take place Friday, Aug. 10, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Joint Base Andrews, Md.
Welsh, a 36-year Air Force veteran, will become the service's twentieth Air Force chief of staff. He most recently served as the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
His command was responsible for Air Force activities, conducted through 3rd Air Force, in an area of operations covering almost one-fifth of the globe. This area includes 51 countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and the Arctic and Atlantic oceans with a total population reaching nearly one billion people speaking more than 80 languages. He also had administrative control of U.S. Air Forces Africa, providing support, logistics and resources to U.S. Africa Command.
Schwartz will retire after a career spanning nearly four decades. As he left his office in the Pentagon for the final time Aug. 8, he was greeted by more than 200 Airmen and civilians who lined the hallways as a tribute.
Live coverage of the ceremonies will begin at 10:30 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) via the Pentagon Channel. A simulcast of the ceremony can be found on the Pentagon Channel's web site: http://www.pentagonchannel.mil. The video feed will also be available on the Air Force official web site at: http://www.af.mil/live.asp. Viewing on the Air Force Portal will be available through a splash screen when you log in.
Social media users can follow the ceremony on the Air Force's Facebook and Twitter pages accessible from the Air Force's official web site, hashtag #CSAFretires and #NewCSAF.
Comments
9/6/2012 10:52:45 AM ET Thanks for your leadership sir. You have been there my entire career and you will be missed. Best of luck to you and Suzie
Jennifer, JTF-B
8/16/2012 7:46:02 PM ET Exceptional leader during an exceptional time in our AF's history. Well done sir Best wishes on retirement.
JA, Japan
8/16/2012 10:02:19 AM ET @MM: I am sure that is not what @Me meant. @Me was stating that it would be appropriate to make ABUs UOD M-F and save the blues for a more appropriate occasion.
Oliver Queen, Star City
8/14/2012 11:45:16 AM ET To everyone wondering The CSAF and CMSAF both have select uniforms that are different from the rest of the Air Force in order to tell them apart. These uniforms range from special Service Dress to Blues Jackets. They have their own regulations to follow as well to own these special uniforms.
A1C, Chillaska
8/13/2012 8:50:07 AM ET @Me, you mean rescind the Monday blues policy and replace it with blues Monday - Thursday and wear ABU's only on Friday? I know ARPC does this I saw a memo dated June 12 and I believe the Pentagon as well. Anyway, General Schwartz congrats on your retirement.
MM, FL
8/11/2012 10:01:29 AM ET Shot no.4 is it- good luck and Go Falcons!
Mike, Colorado Springs
8/11/2012 12:12:26 AM ET Soon when is CMSAF Roy going to retire? He hits 30 next month... did they make an exception to policy that no other chief can get?
Retired Chief, Overhere
8/10/2012 6:10:38 PM ET Maybe the Monday blues policy will be rescinded. IMHO that policy is out of touch. My fingers are crossed.
Me, Everywhere
8/10/2012 2:13:12 PM ET After 39 years of excellent and outstanding service, General Schwartz retires but he leaves an excellent legacy proud airmen and an even better developed Air Force. General Norton Schwartz has had a great impact and he will always remain a proud airman of our great country Thank you for such good service sir
James, Sykesville MD
8/10/2012 1:51:10 PM ET What uniforms were they wearing Soon to be blues
Joe Maneen, NAS Rota Spain
8/10/2012 11:56:04 AM ET What on earth kind of uniform is that? And why is the CSAF wearing a uniform that the entire rest of his force is unfamiliar? with Talk about being out of touch.
confused FGO, Maxwell AFB
8/10/2012 9:24:48 AM ET I was impressed when Gen. Schwartz took time to participate in the Air Force Marathon.
Larry Wildman, Indianapolis IN
8/9/2012 11:51:15 PM ET Chief Mission Completed As Briefed.
Chuck Martin, Alexandria VA
8/9/2012 2:40:16 PM ET Congratulations good luck and thank you for outstanding leadership. It was great to have an Air Commando as our CSAF. Proof that you do not have to be a fighter pilot to be a leader of our Airmen. Hopefully this will open the door in the future for other Airmen that are not pilots to lead our Air Force.
