USAFE vice commander assumes new position in Washington

  • Published
  • By USAFE News Service
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) --  Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, U.S. Air Forces in Europe vice commander, departed Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 30 for his new assignment as Headquarters U.S. Air Force assistant vice chief of staff, Washington.

As the vice commander, General Lichte conducted and coordinated offensive and defensive air and space operations for U.S. European Command on behalf of the USAFE commander.

He was also responsible for providing administrative and logistical support to all Air Force units and activities in USAFE’s geographical area of responsibility, which includes Europe and Russia, as well as regions in Africa and the Middle East. In addition, he was in charge of Air Force negotiations with foreign and U.S. officials.

The general, who arrived here December 2002, has seen USAFE through quite a few accomplishments and milestones during his tenure as USAFE vice commander.

General Lichte assumed his position in the command as the United States and its allies were preparing for a possible war to liberate the Iraqi people from tyranny. USAFE tanker, airlift and fighter assets sustained Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism from various locations throughout Africa and Europe.

USAFE members were involved in various contingency and humanitarian operations since General Lichte’s arrival. In the summer of 2003, the USAFE team mobilized to support potential noncombatant evacuation and peacekeeping operations in Liberia. USAFE provided core personnel for the newly established Joint Task Force Liberia Headquarters, established the operation’s initial presence in the region with an airfield operations team, and deployed units from Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, and Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

The command also went through several changes -- from the reorganization of USAFE Headquarters to an A-staff structure to more clearly align with USAFE’s parent command, to several wing and group activations and reorganizations.

General Lichte’s footprint is most apparent in his oversight of the Rhein-Main Transition Program, a USAFE program to transition the strategic airlift capability of Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, to Ramstein and Spangdahlem Air Bases, Germany, by the end of 2005.

As part of the program, and at a cost of more than €370 million (about $500 million), the German government and NATO are funding the replication of Rhein-Main AB mission capability in the form of 23 construction projects at Spangdahlem AB and 14 projects at Ramstein AB. The projects at both bases include major runway, taxiway and parking ramp renovations and additions.

Whether talking about contingency operations, RMTP, or working with USAFE’s host-nation partners, General Lichte’s been a key member of the command’s leadership, said Gen. Robert H. “Doc” Foglesong, USAFE commander.

“General Lichte has been the connective tissue for the command,” said General Foglesong. “He’s been the guy to pull it all together and help keep this command on a three-degree glideslope to be able to do some wonderful things.”

The best part of the job has been with working and learning from wonderful people, said General Lichte.

“A vice commander is supposed to help a little bit and learn a lot -- I hope I helped a bit, but I know I learned a lot,” General Lichte said.

“I’ve had the opportunity to see the State Department and the Department of Defense working together, and I’ve been able to be a part of some fantastic and interesting things here in USAFE,” the general said. “But more importantly, I’ve had the opportunity to work and forge relationships with our host nation friends. With the Rhein-Main Transition Project and all the changes taking place, USAFE is the heart of the Air Force. Our host-nation friends play a huge part in that, as do the courageous men and women within the command -- for that I thank you; I’m grateful for having had this opportunity.”

Incoming USAFE vice commander Maj. Gen. Robert D. Bishop Jr. is currently the assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington.

General Bishop, who has been selected for promotion to lieutenant general, will assume his new position July 6.