Wilson takes command of AFGSC

by Airman 1st Class Joseph Raatz
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

10/23/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  -- Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson took command of Air Force Global Strike Command during a ceremony here Oct. 23, 2013, becoming the newest leader of the organization responsible for the nation's force of ICBMs and nuclear-capable bombers.

Presiding at the ceremony, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III said Wilson "comes from a warrior family, and now he's going to lead one."

"This command, this commander and the 26,000 Airmen he leads are trusted with two-thirds of our nation's nuclear triad," Welsh said. "What you do is provide our nation with the ability to hold any target at risk, anywhere in the world, at any time. You know that, the rest of the world knows it and that's why strategic deterrence works."

Wilson addressed his new command at Barksdale's historic Hoban Hall.

"I fully understand the importance of our nuclear and global strike mission to provide safe, secure and effective deterrence for our nation," Wilson said. "It's the Air Force's most important mission -- one we can never get wrong."

"In our business, perfection is the standard, and there's no room for incomplete knowledge or substandard performance," Wilson said.

"I am extremely proud to be your commander, and I promise to give you my best effort every day," Wilson said. "I know I can count on you to do the same."

Wilson comes to the position after serving as the Eighth Air Force commander since 2011. In that position, he oversaw and managed three bomb wings and a headquarters staff supporting more than 12,000 personnel in maintaining nuclear readiness for the bomber leg of the United States' nuclear triad.

Wilson succeeds Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski, who has been an integral part of AFGSC since the command's beginning.

In his farewell address, Kowalski praised the Global Strike Airmen for their hard work and dedication.

"You, the Airmen of Global Strike Command, delivered," Kowalski said. "You improved readiness by 37% during a time when the rest of the Air Force was just able to hold its own. You achieved nearly a 50% reduction in outstanding security objectives. You won the General Creech award for the best aircraft maintenance of any Air Force major command. You stood up the first-ever 24/7 tactical response force alert, while pushing ICBM on-alert levels to the highest numbers since 2001. And in 2011, you led U.S. Strategic Command's first-ever combat action during Operation Odyssey Dawn, decimating the Libyan Air Force."

"It has been an incredible privilege to serve you as the Global Strike commander," Kowalski continued. "I look forward to watching all of you take this command, and our Air Force, to the next level under the leadership of General Wilson."

Kowalski will become the deputy commander at U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.