Air Combat Command welcomes new leader
Posted 9/14/2011
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by Scott Knuteson
Air Combat Command Public Affairs
9/14/2011 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) -- Air Combat Command welcomed a new commander in a ceremony Sept. 13 here.
Gen. Gilmary Michael Hostage III assumed command of ACC from Gen. William M. Fraser III in front of hundreds of Airmen and others gathered at the 94th Fighter Squadron hangar.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, who presided over the ceremony, told Hostage his "warfighting experience as the commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, and previous proven leadership at various levels, has poised you for success."
At his position at AFCENT, Hostage was responsible for developing contingency plans and conducting air operations in a 20-nation area of responsibility across Central and Southwest Asia. Prior to that assignment, he was the vice commander of Pacific Air Forces.
"I am humbled and honored to join you," he told the audience. "All of us who have chosen to wear the uniform of our nation are bound by a unique bond: we are the protectors, the guardians, of the precious flame of freedom."
ACC, the largest of the 10 Air Force major commands, is the primary force provider of combat air power to America's warfighting commands.
"Your support during my time (at AFCENT) really made the difference," Hostage told the Airmen of ACC. "I won't presume to predict what you will do in the future, but I have full confidence that you will continue the magnificent record of achievement and excellence."
ACC serves as the lead agency for the Combat Air Forces.
"As the Combat Air Forces lead, we have complete confidence in your ability to excel," Schwartz said to Hostage during the ceremony. "These last few years have presented some of the greatest possible challenges to the CAF as we sought to balance organizing, training and equipping aircrews to win today's war with preparing them for tomorrow's needs."
Fraser has served as ACC commander since September 2009 and received the Distinguished Service Medal, second oak leaf cluster, during the ceremony for his role at ACC and his prior assignment as the vice chief of staff of the Air Force.
"In my time, I have seen our Airmen creatively adapt to an expanding mission," Fraser said. "You have continued, unselfishly, delivering excellence and commitment to ACC and that is renowned throughout the Air Force."
Fraser has been selected for reassignment as the commander of U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
"I'm confident that Transportation Command will thrive under your command philosophy of 'people first, mission always,'" Schwartz said.
Hostage, who was a lieutenant general at his last assignment, was promoted to general before the change of command ceremony.
Hostage, a 1977 graduate of Duke University, is a command pilot with more than 4,000 hours in the T-38 Talon, T-6A Texan II, E-3 Sentry (AWACS), MC-12 and every model of the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle. He has logged more than 600 combat hours in operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.
He has commanded at the squadron, wing and group levels and has served as aide to the chief of staff of the Air Force, senior military assistant to the secretary of the Air Force, joint staff political-military planner, and director of requirements and integration at Joint Forces Command. He also served as the Air Education and Training Command director of Air, Space and Information Operations as well as their director for plans and programs.
The general was last stationed at ACC as the command's assistant director of operations from June 1997 to April 1998. He was also stationed at then Langley Air Force Base in various positions from September 1989 to August 1992.
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