Pacific Air Forces has installed newly promoted Lt. Gen. Loyd Utterback as commander of 13th Air Force, now formally operating at its new home at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Formerly assigned to Andersen AFB, Guam, as a management headquarters, 13th AF now is one of USAF’s 10 operational warfighting headquarters. Utterback took over from Maj. Gen. Edward Rice, who moved the command from Andersen to Hickam. Rice now serves as PACAF vice commander.
In a rare letter to the entire force, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach is telling Airmen to stay ready to support Operation Epic Fury, the massive U.S. operation against Iran.