General Moseley swears in as Air Force’s 18th chief of staff

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Tim Dougherty
  • Air Force Print News
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. --  Gen. T. Michael Moseley was sworn in as the Air Force’s 18th chief of staff in a ceremony here Sept. 2 that also featured the retirement of Gen. John P. Jumper after 39 years of service.

Acting Secretary of the Air Force Pete Geren presided over the ceremony. Also taking part in the ceremony were Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers.

Secretary Rumsfeld thanked General Jumper for his “exemplary service” to the nation.

“Nowhere except in the military service can you wake up every day and know that our country is safer because of you,” Secretary Rumsfeld said. “John Jumper, you can do that literally every day for the rest of your life.”

“You’ve given us a great Air Force,” General Moseley told General Jumper during the ceremony. “We are all going to make it our life’s work for you to be proud of us and to continue on the path that you have given us. It is our continued promise that we Airmen will be the best in the world at what we do -- dominating air and space.”

Mr. Geren said the Air Force is in good hands with General Moseley.

“With General Jumper’s retirement this is a bittersweet day for the Air Force,” Mr. Geren said. “But we’re gaining a new chief of staff who has been proven in battle over Iraq and Afghanistan. As the vice chief, he has been directly involved in running the Air Force for the last two years, and he’s ready.”

General Myers said there is no better Airman to take the reins of the Air Force than General Moseley.

“General Moseley knows a lot about how to deliver air power and what kind of air power to deliver to make effects happen on the battle space,” General Myers said. “During this critical time, General Moseley and his wife are exactly the right people, and we welcome them on board.”

General Moseley said the continued success of the Air Force hinges on the efforts of thousands of Airmen engaged in combat operations worldwide or performing humanitarian relief in the tragic aftermath of the hurricane on the Gulf Coast.

“This magnificent Air Force is engaged across the globe,” General Moseley said. “The Airmen you see here today, and watching this ceremony around the world, are our greatest resource and our greatest power. These Airmen are what makes the Air Force the most powerful air and space force in the world.”