In the time-honored military tradition signifying assumption of command, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz passes the Air Force Materiel Command guidon, or unit flag, to Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger. Wolfenbarger assumed command of AFMC June 5, 2012, in a ceremony at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michelle Gigante)
by Kim Dawley
Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
6/5/2012 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger became the first female four-star general in the Air Force and assumed the top position of Air Force Materiel Command during ceremonies here June 5, 2012.
Wolfenbarger took the reins of the major command responsible for the technology, acquisition, test and sustainment of the service's current and future weapon systems from Gen. Donald Hoffman during a change of command ceremony held at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Prior to the change of command, Wolfenbarger received her fourth star during a promotion ceremony.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presided over the ceremony, during which he lauded AFMC's excellence in keeping Air Force weapon systems ready, available and effective, and expressed his confidence that the command is in capable hands with Wolfenbarger.
"We honor Janet Wolfenbarger, an extraordinary public servant and a model Air Force officer," Schwartz said. "Based on her record, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and I are entirely confident that she is up to the task of commanding this great organization."
Wolfenbarger thanked Schwartz and Donley for their faith in her ability to lead AFMC and said she was looking forward to once again being part of the AFMC team.
"This opportunity only really exists because the Air Force has embraced a culture of diversity," she said. "This culture has been cultivated over many years, driven by leadership at every level who acknowledge and appreciate the value of contributions from every Airman.
"I promise I will serve in my role as AFMC commander with my absolute best effort," Wolfenbarger continued. "What's more, I have total confidence in the men and women of this command. We will always rise to the occasion and accomplish our difficult mission with determination and enthusiasm."
Schwartz also highlighted Hoffman's dedication to both AFMC's mission and its workforce.
"Don, thank you for presiding over an impressive effort here at AFMC," Schwartz said. "During your tenure, AFMC continued its longstanding excellence in research and development, test and evaluation, acquisition management and logistics support.
"During some of the most challenging and turbulent times for our Air Force, General Hoffman has inspired mission success," he continued. "Don and Jacki, thank you for your combined service to our Air Force, and for your very important contributions to our nation's security."
Hoffman said he would most miss the quality of the people one finds in the Air Force, and the unquestioned level of trust that Airmen exude.
"When you meet someone in the Air Force, you know they've taken an oath to defend the Constitution and a pledge to live by core values of integrity, service and excellence," he said. "Thanks to all of our Airmen, it has been my good fortune to be part of the best Air Force in the world. It was the best when I joined it. It's smaller now, its missions have changed, but it's still the best. And I have total confidence that those who follow me will keep it the best Air Force in the world."
Hoffman, who had served as the commander of AFMC since November 2008, is retiring after 42 years of service.
After serving as the military deputy of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition at the Pentagon for the past eight months, Wolfenbarger becomes the eighth AFMC commander since AFMC stood up on July 1, 1992. She will now lead a workforce of approximately 81,000 people and manage an annual budget of about $60 billion.
Comments
8/23/2012 10:46:37 AM ET It will be interesting to see if the new commander will show the leadership needed to prevent and mitigate all the AFRL EEO complaints - there are many.
DD, AFRL
7/3/2012 1:08:02 PM ET Congrats Gen. Wolfenbarger
Gary, Denver CO
6/28/2012 4:59:34 PM ET Stewey Actually she did complete Industrial College of the Armed Forces much the same as Gen. James Jamerson. So that invalidates your argument.
Lt Kirchner, Hill
6/26/2012 12:01:23 PM ET She never completed her Professional Military Education in Residence yet still made 4 Stars....being a woman had everything to do with this promotion. According to her BIO she never accomplished Air War College, which would halt a man's career dead in its tracks no questions asked
Stewey, Leavenworth
6/11/2012 10:05:40 AM ET To quote Capt Lawrence P Wilson... Aircrew dont think they are better than everyone else if they do they are wrong. Their responsibilities place them above others and they are the future leaders of the Air Force.
Same, Here
6/8/2012 3:24:30 PM ET Is that correct in her time line for promotion Maj Gen to LT Gen in 6 months?
Joe, Orlando FL
6/8/2012 1:29:46 PM ET For crying out loud will someone get the General a plant so we can end this discussion? Bet she could fly the heck out of any plant?
GS, DC
6/8/2012 11:33:34 AM ET The general had a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT by the time she was 27. I'm fairly certain she has enough brain power to fly a plane.
CMSgt Matt Proietti, Penn Valley CA
6/8/2012 11:07:38 AM ET Analyst... did you ever consider that Ernie didn't say that was a bad thing? What's the saying... when you're a hammer all the world is a nail. when you're a pilot all the world is a plane. The fact is our undoing as a force has been based in waste on two fighters that have been poorly acquired and are not as relevant to the modern mission as the ops community would have you believe. Are they cool toys? Yes are they needed... maybe. Hopefully a true Acq body in command will help curb this sensational systems approach we've gotten used to as the norm.
Dashwee, KS
6/8/2012 11:03:46 AM ET Ernie - there are not many in the AF that have flown a plant. There are also many that have not flown a plane either. The current commander and four-star at Space Command also has not flown a plane. The previous commander and four-star now commander of US Strategic Command has not flown a plane. Gen Lord also a previous commander at Space Command did not fly a plane. It does not take a pilot to command at all levels in the Air Force. She is an expert in her field and I am sure will make a great commander.
DM, Peterson AFB
6/8/2012 11:02:48 AM ET No JPL your comment is short sighted. Rule one of military service is that your gender race and now orientation are irrelevant to your promotability. The fact that we celebrate this is tantemount to accepting that deserving women were not pushed forward in the past simply because they are women. The General got where she is on her individual merits, she's not an outstanding woman in this context, she's an outstanding Airman. We advance the cause of equality by not being surprised when non-white men acheieve. I think it speaks more volumes that she's a 4-star without wings or expeditionary-OCONUS service. Truly that's the sign of the times.
JB, VA
6/8/2012 10:40:19 AM ET @JPL Agreed now that most female first barriers are broken save a few we can now look forward to many more new firsts when we have our first openly gay fill-in-the-blank position. What then first trangenders First amputees Just look at the individual qualifications to do the job not the external package and move on so we can all STFU.
IM Dunn, CONUS
6/8/2012 9:43:53 AM ET ernie banner- yes she has never flown a plant. If you meant to say plane yes she has never flown one of those either. The Air Force has people that do things other than fly planes and we don't always need someone who does fly a plane to tell us what to do. We are putting an acquisitions professional in charge of an acquisitions command. Makes sense to me.
Analyst, USAFA
6/7/2012 1:54:48 PM ET SJ your arguement is very short sighted. If we fail to recognize our significant firsts then we have failed our members that brake outside the envelope and lead where others have never been.
JPL, Cincinnati
6/7/2012 1:08:15 PM ET A fourth star for someone who hasnever flown a plant
ernie banner, 37650
6/7/2012 10:43:51 AM ET Like I stated in a commentary regarding the 4 FW change of command, if we continue to recognize race/gender-specific accomplishments we'll never rise to equality.
SJ, Florida
6/6/2012 4:13:50 PM ET Congratulations to General Wolfenbarger Best wishes to you and AFMC.
