Scott AFB hosting two historic changes of command

375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

4/30/2014 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Two commands here will usher in new leaders in historic changes of command to be held at the parade field May 5.

At 10 a.m., Gen. Darren W. McDew, former 18th Air Force commander, will assume command of Air Mobility Command. He takes command from Gen. Paul J. Selva who will assume command of U.S. Transportation Command in a ceremony at 1 p.m. Current USTRANSCOM commander, Gen. William M. Fraser III, is retiring after 40 years of service.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III will preside at AMC's change of command. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will preside at USTRANSCOM's afternoon ceremony, and Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will also be part of the program.

AMC, headquartered at Scott AFB, is an Air Force major command and the air component of USTRANSCOM. AMC provides worldwide cargo and passenger delivery, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation. More than 133,700 active-duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command and Department of Defense civilians make the command's rapid global mobility operations possible.

USTRANSCOM, one of nine combatant commands, provides air, land and sea transportation, terminal management and aerial refueling to support the global deployment, employment, sustainment and redeployment of U.S. forces. Along with AMC, the following commands are subordinate to USTRANSCOM: Army's Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, the Navy's Military Sealift Command, and the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command.

Maj. Gen. Barbara Faulkenberry, who is currently the vice commander at 18th Air Force, will serve as 18th AF commander. The mission of the 18th AF is the tasking and executing of all air mobility missions. Units reporting to 18th AF include 11 airlift, air mobility and air refueling wings, one airlift group and the 618th Air and Space Operations Center. There is one contingency response wing, and two air mobility operations wings in Germany and Hawaii.