Etter nominated as 1st Air Force commander

by Master Sgt. Jerry Harlan
AFNORTH Public Affairs

1/25/2013 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Maj. Gen. William H. Etter, assistant to the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard Matters, the Pentagon, was nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as commander, First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) and commander, Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command Region here.

If confirmed by the Senate, Etter will replace Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clark III, who is departing to be the Director of the Air National Guard. Clarke led CONR-1AF (AFNORTH) since August 2011.

As commander, Etter will be directly responsible for developing contingency plans and conducting full-spectrum U.S. Air Force air and space operations in CONUS, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as over the maritime approaches to the United States. The organization is also responsible for providing Defense Support of Civil Authorities as the air component to U.S. Northern Command.

During his current assignment, Etter is responsible for providing the Chairman with timely insights on the National Guard which are enabled by collaboration with the Office of Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, unified combatant commands, service staffs and Reserve components. He also serves as the Chairman's liaison with the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Reserve Affairs), the Reserve component chiefs and the various Reserve forces policy boards. In addition, he provides subject-matter expertise to the Joint Staff on force integration, operational employment and strategic engagement of the Reserve components.

Etter is a command pilot with more than 3,500 hours in the T-37, T-38, and F-16 A/B/C/D aircraft. He has served as Deputy Director of the Air National Guard and as numerous positions at National Guard Bureau including Director of Strategic Plans and Policy and Director, Domestic Operations.