New commander takes over Air Force Materiel Command
Friday, November 21, 2008
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — Gen. Donald J. Hoffman, the new commander of the Air Force Materiel Command that oversees weapons acquisition and sustainment across the Air Force, said the service must focus on replacing old aircraft.
Hoffman was promoted to four-star general Friday, Nov. 21, then accepted the AFMC command from his retiring predecessor, Gen. Bruce Carlson, in a ceremony at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Echoing a concern that Carlson has raised, Hoffman said the Air Force needs to step up its purchases of new aircraft rather than continue to spend millions maintaining older planes with outdated technology. The average age of the Air Force flying fleet is 24 years, Hoffman reminded his audience of senior Air officials, families and friends.
"Many things that I look around and see are newer than the things we operate on our flight lines," Hoffman said, surveying displays in the museum's Modern Flight Gallery.
Carlson is retiring from the Air Force, effective Jan. 1, to end a 37-year career. He hands over an AFMC that includes 74,000 people and manages a budget of about $59 billion, roughly 40 percent of the Air Force's budget, including key research and development programs. It is based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and is one of the Air Force's nine major commands.
Carlson received a congratulatory letter from President Bush and a Distinguished Service Medal, presented by Air Force Chief of Staff Norton A. Schwartz.
"It has been an honor to serve," said Carlson, a longtime administrator and former fighter pilot who plans to retire to the San Antonio, Texas, area and work as a consultant to the Air Force.
Carlson was honored for achievements including overseeing sustainment of the Air Force's F-22 fighter; development and delivery of the Angel Fire aerial surveillance system; creation of a centralized system to manage orders and distribution of parts, and testing of 50-50 blends of synthetic and jet fuels as the military tries to reduce its dependence on conventional fossil fuels.
Carlson's wife, Vicki, received an Exceptional Service Award for her years of work in supporting Air Force families, especially those with members deployed elsewhere.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.
