Shwedo takes command of 25th AF and Shanahan gets 3rd star

by Guido Locati
25th Air Force Public Affairs

8/4/2015 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - LACKLAND, Texas  -- U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Bradford J. "B.J." Shwedo, took command of the 25th Air Force today from Maj. Gen. John N. T. "Jack" Shanahan during a change of command ceremony that Gen. Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, officiated here, Aug. 3.

"It is great to be back here in San Antonio," Shwedo said, referencing two previous assignments here as commander of the 67th Network Warfare Group and later as commander of 67th Network Warfare Wing; both of which were part of the Air Intelligence Agency, now 25th Air Force.

Shwedo talked about the pride he said he feels at all of the things the ISR Airmen are doing to protect the U.S. from "the bad guys."

After highlighting several intelligence jobs along Shwedo's career including his background in cyber operations, Carlisle said, "I know we have the right man for the job."

Before he arrived, Shwedo, a 1987 graduate of the Air Force Academy, was the director of capability and resource integration, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Md. where he was responsible for acquiring resources to satisfy the command's requirements. To meet the growing demand for offensive and defensive cyberspace operations, Shwedo led the development and oversight for the Cyber Mission Forces' integrated master plan and schedule covering three mission areas: defending the nation in cyberspace, providing support to combatant commands and protecting the DoD information networks.

Immediately following the change of command, Carlisle officiated Shanahan's promotion to the rank of lieutenant general. His promotion is in preparation for Shanahan's new role as Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence) for Joint and Coalition Warfighter Support: and director, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Task Force at the Pentagon.

During his promotion ceremony, Shanahan made it a point to recognize the men and women of 25th Air Force whose tireless dedication to the mission led to his promotion.

Shanahan becomes the fourth consecutive outgoing commander in the 25th Air Force era to attain a third star.