Gen. Mark A. Welsh III takes command of USAFE

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, speaks to the those in attendance after accepting the command of U.S. Air Forces in Europe during a change of command ceremony, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 13, 2010. Gen. Roger A. Brady, relinquished command of USAFE during the change of command ceremony after providing command and control for air, space and missile defense for activities in an area of operations covering almost one-fifth of the globe which included 51 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)

Gen. Mark A. Welsh III takes command of USAFE

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz gives Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, the command of U.S. Air Forces in Europe during a change of command ceremony, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 13, 2010. Gen. Roger A. Brady, outgoing USAFE commander, relinquished command during the change of command ceremony after providing command and control for air, space and missile defense for activities in an area of operations covering almost one-fifth of the globe which included 51 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)

Gen. Mark A. Welsh III takes command of USAFE

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Gen. Roger A. Brady, outgoing U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, and incoming Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, present arms during the posting of the colors and playing of the National Anthems to begin a change of command ceremony, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 13, 2010. Gen. Brady, outgoing USAFE commander, relinquished command during the change of command ceremony after providing command and control for air, space and missile defense for activities in an area of operations covering almost one-fifth of the globe which included 51 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)

Gen. Mark Welsh takes Command of USAFE

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz and Betty Welsh pin on the forth star of Gen. Mark A. Welsh III in a brief ceremony immediately before taking command of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 13, 2010. Gen. Welsh is responsible for Air Force activities, conducted through 3rd Air Force, in an area of operations covering almost one-fifth of the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree Whitney Esposito)

Support of Israel wildfires response

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Staff Sgt. Tiffany Gordon, American Forces Network Europe Ramstein, prepares her camera for an interview while supporting the response to wildfires near Haifa, Israel, Dec. 4. U.S. Air Forces in Europe began airlifting 20 tons of fire retardant to Israel in a joint effort with U.S. European Command to provide humanitarian assistance to Israel. EUCOM started the mission at the request of the Israeli government to help control and extinguish the wildfires to save lives, homes, infrastructure and natural resources. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin Wilson)

Gen. Brady's Fini Flight

U.S. Air Force General Roger Brady, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, is sprayed with water after completing his final flight as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Nov. 23, 2010. Gen. Brady began his flight training in 1972, and has more than 3,000 hours of flight time in various air frames. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brittany Nicole Perry)