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11th AF commander addresses Team Andersen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Emily A. Bradley
  • 36 Wing Public Affairs
Lt. Gen. Russ Handy, 11th Air Force commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jerry Moore Jr., 11th Air Force command chief master sergeant, spent time with Team Andersen Airmen during an all call here June 19th.

Handy officiated the 36th Wing change of command ceremony earlier in the day and used the opportunity to show his appreciation to the Airmen stationed on Andersen with the all call in the base theater, where he fielded questions on several issues, including force shaping.

"There are so many tremendous Airmen stationed here, and it's important that you understand how important you are to executing the Pacific Commander's strategy...and to security and stability across the region," Handy said. "The Air Force is declining in size, but we still have fantastic Airmen rising to the challenge."

He also addressed concerns about changes in the feedback process and relayed information from General Mark Welsh III, Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody.

"The Air Force is shifting emphasis to better evaluate duty performance so we can accurately assess those with the greatest potential to serve in the next higher grade" Handy said. "You will see many of these changes take effect within the next year."

The 36th Wing falls under 11th Air Force organizationally alongside wings at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Eielson AFB, Alaska and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii and several other organizations and detachments across the Pacific. In addition to being the 11th AF commander, Handy is also the commander of Alaskan Command, Joint Task Force Alaska, and North American Aerospace Defense Command, Alaska Region at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.