PACAF commander visits Andersen during farewell tour

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shane Dunaway
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  After more than a year and a half leading Pacific Air Forces, Gen. Howie Chandler bid farewell to Team Andersen during his farewell tour of PACAF July 2.

General Chandler assumed command of PACAF in November 2007. He will be moving on to the Pentagon for his upcoming assignment as the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Under his charge, there have been significant changes throughout the command. The most notable for Andersen include the beddown of the 36th Contingency Response Group, the addition of the Global Hawk mission and the shift to working in a joint environment with U.S. Navy Sailors and civilians.

"I've been incredibly pleased with the way the commanders have grabbed onto the priorities that we set here in the Pacific in terms of posturing our forces, providing combat capability to the combatant commander, working toward security and stability in the region and taking care of our Airmen and their families," General Chandler said. "I think the commanders have responded magnificently. We've been able to push the ball down the field a ways. We haven't solved all the problems nor will I claim to have solved all the problems, but we have certainly been able to make some progress in most of the areas."

General Chandler credits the Airmen and civilians under his command for the many successes PACAF has accomplished during his tenure.

"I thank them and their families - those who are in the Pacific with them and those that are back at home for those who are deployed here or on remote tours - for what they do to support so we can get our job done," General Chandler said. "There are a lot of people in PACAF doing a lot of good work and it's been [my] privilege to represent them."

The general has become very familiar with Andersen during his time in the the Air Force, having first visited the island in the 1980s.

"It's been very interesting to watch the base evolve," he said. "I think the base is undergoing a transformation today unlike anything we've ever seen. There's probably more activity here than since the end of the Vietnam War and I think that will continue. One thing that hasn't changed is the way the Airmen here at Andersen make the mission happen every day and what they do for PACAF and this part of the world. The other thing I don't think has changed is the very good community relationship that we share with the local community on Guam and the support they give to our Airmen and families every day."