General North assumes command of Pacific Air Forces

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Allison Day
  • PACAF Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFNS) --  The command of Pacific Air Forces, celebrating 65 years of providing American airpower in the Pacific this month, was passed from Gen. Howie Chandler to Gen. Gary North during a ceremony here Aug. 19 on Freedom Tower Mall. 

General North assumed command here after completing more than three years of leading the air campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. General Chandler, the commander since November 2007, will become the vice chief of staff of the Air Force at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. 

Gen. Norton Schwartz, chief of staff of the Air Force, presided over the ceremony along with Navy Adm. Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command,

General Schwartz lauded General Chandler's accomplishments in strengthening alliances and invigorating partnerships with numerous nations in the Pacific region. The service's top officer also presented General Chandler with a Distinguished Service Medal. 

In addition to General Chandler's "constant drum beat" for readiness and engaging partner nations in the Pacific, General Schwartz touted the outgoing commander's commitment to people. 

"PACAF's success is a testament to General Chandler's leadership, and to the unwavering commitment of the dedicated Airmen and their supportive families under his command, who made it all happen," said General Schwartz. "In an (area of responsibility) encompassing almost half the globe, among nine major installations, from the tropics to the arctic, nowhere is there a greater need for a strong advocate for Air Force families and you have answered that call." 

Before inspecting 10 formations of PACAF Airmen and the joint U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps band assembled on the parade field, General Chandler thanked the men and women of PACAF. 

"Every day, I am impressed by your ingenuity and initiative," he said. "As Eva-Marie and I depart, you have our sincerest thanks for the work you have done here." 

Common in the themes of both presiding officers' remarks was the wealth of Pacific experience that General North brings to the job. General North has commanded a group and two fighter wings in the Pacific. He also was the director of operations for U.S. Pacific Command in Camp Smith, Hawaii, and deputy director of politico-military affairs for Asia-Pacific on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. 

"No one is better qualified," General Schwartz said. "It is appropriate for Gary to become the commander of Pacific Air Forces, so today we welcome you to the Pacific once again."

General North thanked General Schwartz and Admiral Keating for their faith in his ability to lead PACAF and made a pledge to the Airmen and civilians of the Pacific. 

"Thank you for making this a special day," General North said. "For the days to come you have my commitment to lead, serve alongside and follow, to ensure that the Pacific Air Forces and the Airmen and civilians who serve in the Pacific continue their legacy of valor and the traditions of honor that have served so well to benefit stability, security and prosperity in the region for the last 65 years. 

"I am humbled to be selected by our chief and Admiral Keating," said General North.
 
General North, accompanied by his wife, Shelley, received his fourth star in a ceremony before the change of command. He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 hours in the F-4 Phantom, F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from East Carolina University, N.C., in 1976 and later earned three master's degrees. 

As the former commander of 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central headquartered at Shaw AFB, S.C., General North was presented Aug. 5 with a Defense Distinguished Service Medal by Army Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the U.S. Central Command, for his orchestration of the air campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2006. 

His other major awards include a Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with "V" device and oak leaf cluster. 

In accepting the PACAF flag, General North becomes the air component commander for PACOM and is responsible for 5th Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan; 7th Air Force, Osan Air Base, South Korea; 11th Air Force, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; and 13th Air Force at Hickam AFB, Hawaii.