18th Air Force welcomes new commander

from 18th Air Force Public Affairs

6/20/2014 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Lieutenant Gen. Carlton D. Everhart II assumed command of 18th Air Force during a ceremony officiated by Air Mobility Command Commander Gen. Darren W. McDew here, June 20.

Addressing the Airmen in his new command for the first time, Everhart affirmed the command's heritage of excellence.

"18th Air Force's first commander, Col. Earl Young, observed, 'the one thing that has never changed has been our leaders and our Airmen. We've always had the best.' I wholeheartedly agree," Everhart said.

In his previous assignment, Everhart commanded the 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force, located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. As commander of 3rd AF and 17th EAF he was responsible to plan, deploy, employ, sustain and redeploy Air Force forces supporting U.S. European and U.S. Africa Command during contingency and wartime operations. Previous to his command at 3rd AF, Everhart served as commander of the 618th Air and Space Operations Center here.

During the ceremony, McDew expressed his confidence in Everhart's ability to shepherd 18th AF's global mobility mission.

"You won't find an officer more capable for this command than General Everhart. He has the energy, the enthusiasm, and just as important the impeccable credentials that this unique organization demands," McDew said.

As 18th AF commander, Everhart is responsible for the command's worldwide operational mission of providing rapid, global mobility and sustainment for America's armed forces. With more than 37,000 active-duty Airmen, Guardsmen, Reservists and civilians and approximately 1,100 aircraft, 18th AF manages global air mobility through the 618th AOC, 11 wings and two stand-alone airlift groups.

Averaging an aircraft takeoff every two-and-a-half minutes, 18th AF sustains America's military operations worldwide, including combat operations in Afghanistan, through its airlift, aerial refueling and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. The command also responds to humanitarian crises at home and around the globe.

"We fuel the fight, deliver hope and save lives all with speed, safety, and success. We provide our nation the "global" in global reach, global vigilance, and global power, giving us a prominent role in national security," Everhart said.