AFMC welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Carl Norman
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
Air Force Materiel Command’s new leader officially accepted command Aug. 22 during a ceremony at the Air Force Museum here.

Gen. Gregory S. Martin assumed command from Gen. Lester L. Lyles who held the position since April 2000. Following the change of command, Lyles retired after 35 years of service.

Martin served more than three years as the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He also commanded Allied Air Forces Northern Europe and the U.S. European Command Air Force component.

During the ceremony, Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force chief of staff, cited many of Lyles’ accomplishments and the fact that he’s been honored formally many times.

“What’s great is not the formal awards, but how he invests himself personally,” Jumper said. “Les has been a champion from the very beginning.”

Jumper welcomed Martin to the command and said he looks forward to great work continuing at AFMC.

“Wherever he goes, he brings energy and leadership,” Jumper said of Martin. “He brings a great depth of operational experience and experience in the acquisition community.”

After receiving the command flag, Martin said he accepted the responsibility with pride, honor and humility.

“There’s pride in joining one of America’s greatest teams, honor in guiding this command into the next level of innovation and humility in following in the footsteps of an Air Force giant,” Martin said.

In a pre-ceremony interview, Martin said he intends to be just as enthusiastic a supplier as he was a customer.

“I recently was the beneficiary of the work this command does, and there wasn’t a day that went by I didn’t appreciate that,” he said. “I hope to add enthusiasm from a satisfied customer’s perspective, but more importantly, from a guy who has a deep and abiding trust and belief in the people who are doing something behind the scenes that is so incredibly valuable to our Air Force.

“In the last four years we have fought in three major wars and have been absolutely dominant on the battlefield because of capabilities produced by the people in this command and the acquisition community,” Martin said. “I think the changes that have been announced recently (to the acquisition structure) are the kinds of changes that reflect a maturity and willingness to do even better.”

An emotional Lyles thanked many people for their inspiration, faithfulness, mentorship and other influences on his life and career.

“I’ll never have the opportunity to do this again while wearing an active duty uniform,” he said. “I’d like to salute the men and women of the United States Air Force, particularly from Air Force Materiel Command, for your outstanding service.”

With that, the former commander put his right hand to his brow and accepted returned salutes from all military members attending. (Courtesy of AFMC News Service)