Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach received his fourth star and took over command of Pacific Air Forces during a July 8 ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
Wilsbach took the guidon from Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., who will take over as the next Air Force Chief of Staff Aug. 6.
Wilsbach comes to PACAF after commanding 7th Air Force in South Korea, and also has led 11th Air Force in Alaska. All told, Wilsbach has had nine assignments in the Pacific, where the Pentagon is now focusing more attention and resources to counter Chinese influence in the region.
“I’ve been fortunate to serve here about half of my career, and over that time the theater has certainly matured, it’s changed dramatically, it’s become a lot more complex, and it’s become, frankly, the strategic epicenter for our nation,” Wilsbach said at the ceremony, according to an Air Force release. “I am totally energized for the opportunity, and I’m very proud to lead the Airmen in the priority theater.”
Wilsbach will be the 36th commander of Pacific Air Forces, overseeing 46,000 Airmen and operations across 36 nations and 16 time zones, according to PACAF.