13th Air Force officials welcome new commander

  • Published
  • By Capt. Genieve David
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFNS) --  Officials from 13th Air Force here welcomed their new commander in a change-of-command ceremony Sept. 2 at Hickam Air Force Base.

Lt. Gen. Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle assumed command of 13th Air Force as Lt. Gen. Loyd S. "Chip" Utterback relinquished command and will retire from the Air Force after more than 33 years of service. 

General Carlisle had been at the Pentagon as the director of legislative liaison in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for almost two years.

Gen. Gary North, the Pacific Air Forces commander, presided over the ceremony. He applauded 13th Air Force's accomplishments during General Utterback's tenure and said the organization's future was bright with General Carlisle.

"General Carlisle's breadth and depth of experience, and leadership abilities are exactly the reason we have brought him to command 13th Air Force," General North said. "He has a tremendous record of leadership and will continue the legacy of 13th Air Force."

General Carlisle served previously as part of the Pacific Air Forces team, spending seven of his 31 years in the Air Force in Japan and Alaska. The general said he was impressed by the many accomplishments of 13th Air Force over a 66 year history.

"We will continue to build upon the tremendous foundation of our predecessors, and we will honor the legacy or those who have gone before us to live up to their standards of service, excellence and integrity," General Carlisle said.

General Carlisle was accompanied at the change of command by his wife, Gillian. He was promoted to lieutenant general during a Sept. 1 ceremony by General North in the PACAF headquarters building.

The general is a command pilot with more than 3,400 hours in the T-38 and AT-38 Talon, the YF-110, the YF-113, and the F-15 Eagle. He earned his bachelor's degree in math at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1978 and later a master's degree in business administration from Golden State University in San Francisco.

As the former director of legislative liaison for the Air Force, General Carlisle provided liaison between the Air Force and Congress on issues such as legislative and constituent inquiries, programs, and weapons systems.

As the 13th Air Force commander, General Carlisle is responsible for the command, control and execution of air, space and information operations capabilities across the U.S. Pacific Command area of operations, excluding the Korean theater. He serves as the joint forces air component commander and, when designated, as the commander of Air Force forces during operations or contingency.

He also provides oversight and direction to the 15th Airlift Wing here; the 36th Wing at Andersen AFB, Guam; the 1st Air Support Operations Group at Fort Lewis, Wash.; and 12 additional units in Japan, Alaska and California.