General Looney takes command of AETC

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RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Gen. William R. Looney III became the commander of Air Education and Training Command here June 17 taking the helm of the Air Force’s “first command.”

Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force chief of staff, presided at the flightline ceremony, which more than 1,200 people attended.

General Looney came to AETC after commanding the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He also served as commander of the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom AFB, Mass.; 14th Air Force at Vandenberg AFB, Calif.; the Space Warfare Center at Schriever AFB, Colo.; the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va.; and the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla.

As commander of AETC, General Looney is responsible for recruiting, training and educating Airmen. His command includes Air Force Recruiting Service, two numbered air forces and Air University. The command comprises 13 bases, more than 66,000 active-duty Airmen and 15,000 civilians.

During the ceremony, General Jumper recognized the achievements of the command and its previous commander, Gen. Donald G. Cook.

The command was presented the Organizational Excellence Award for “exceptionally meritorious service” from Oct. 1, 2002, through Sept. 30, 2004. During this period the command, which oversees the professional training and education of nearly 500,000 people annually, established the Combat Convoy Course, developed the first Air Force UH-1H and Huey II maintenance statement of work saving the Air Force about $30 million and benchmarked safety’s command mentorship program, resulting in a 25-percent reduction in motorcycle mishaps, according to the award citation.

General Cook received the Distinguished Service Medal for his work as the AETC commander and retired during the ceremony after 36 years of Air Force service.

The event concluded with a flyover of four T-38 Talons in a symbolic tribute to the Air Force careers of General Cook and General Looney -- both of whom received their wings after completing flying training in the T-38.