Brig. Gen. Stephen Williams replaced Maj. Gen. Gregory Lengyel as the new commandant of cadets at the US Air Force Academy on July 1. Williams, formerly the commander of the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa AB, Japan, received his first star and took over the reins during the ceremony, Meade Warthen, Academy spokesperson, told Air Force Magazine. Lengyel, who led the Academy since June 2012, said his No. 1 priority was to “foster a culture of commitment within the Cadet Wing,” according to a June 27 release. “When you’re given responsibility to make something happen and be in-charge of people, your perspective completely changes,” he said. Lengyel is slated to be the next commander of Special Operations Command Europe, and director of special ops in the European Command in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
