New commander takes Air Force Recruiting reins

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey
  • Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Air Force Recruiting Service welcomed its new commander during a change of command ceremony here July 17.

Brig. Gen. Suzanne Vautrinot took command from Brig. Gen. Robertus Remkes, who headed AFRS since February 2004. In her new role, General Vautrinot is the first female to lead Air Force recruiting in the organization's 52-year history. The general pinned on her new rank in a promotion ceremony preceding the change of command.

In her first address to Airmen in recruiting, the new commander lauded all Air Force Recruiting Service members for providing a first-class impression of the Air Force with an enthusiastic "commitment to excellence."

General Vautrinot also briefly addressed the challenges the Air Force and recruiting service face as budgetary constraints and manning reductions continue.

"The nation is at war, and the Air Force needs to become lean. Every one of us must do more, work smarter and more efficiently without losing one ounce of what we bring (to the service)," she said.

As the Air Force Recruiting Service commander, General Vautrinot leads four groups and 28 squadrons with more than 3,270 active-duty and 305 civilian recruiters and support personnel assigned to locations in the United States, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, Puerto Rico and Guam. The organization is charged with the development, implementation and management of enlisted and officer recruiting programs.

Preceding her assignment here, General Vautrinot served as the strategic security deputy director for the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air, Space and Information Operations, Plans and Requirements at the Pentagon. There she provided policy and guidance to Air Force nuclear, space, counterproliferation and homeland defense programs.

General Remkes was selected for promotion to major general and for reassignment as plans and policies director for U.S. European Command headquarters at Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany.