USAFE gets new commander

  • Published
  • USAFE News Service
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) --  Gen. William T. Hobbins assumed command of United States Air Forces in Europe from Gen. Robert H. “Doc” Foglesong today at a ceremony on Ramstein AB.

General Hobbins, who previously worked as Warfighting Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighting Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and acting Chief of Information Officer for the office of the Secretary of the Air Force, will begin his term as USAFE commander just five years after he last left the command as its director of Aerospace Operations.

“Robbin and I are absolutely thrilled to be back in Germany,” the general said. “We look forward to rekindling the friendships we shared just a few short years ago.”

During today’s ceremony, General Hobbins shared his admiration for the command’s previous commander, as well as spoke of his plans for the future.

“In my last function, I found inspiration in the understanding that decision superiority is not narrowly about technology, but broadly about the emerging military response to the information age,” the general said. “Our history of air dominance using agile deployability and geographically dispersed forces makes complete battlefield awareness essential for success. My goal is to lead a command instilled with these world-class information capabilites.”

After assuming command, General Hobbins spoke in English and German to thank his distinguished guests, including Gen. James L. Jones, U.S. European Command commander; Gen. T. Michael Moseley, chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force; General Foglesong and his family; as well local community, state and federal workers, in addition to the men and women of USAFE.

In his farewell speech, General Foglesong expressed his admiration for USAFE’s Airmen and the tremendous job they’ve done during his term as commander.

“We have done great things and I have been privileged to work with such a fine group; not only of Airmen, but of Marines, Soldiers, and Sailors as well as our European Allies. We have continued the incredible legacy of accomplishments that NATO has achieved over the last five decades,” General Foglesong said.

During General Foglesong’s tenure, USAFE stood up the Air Force’s Warfighting Headquarters and established Centers of Excellence for Expeditionary Operations, Air Dominance and Joint Fires. The general also led a robust theater security cooperation effort, visited more than 60 countries and established new relationships in USAFE’s area of operations. Since taking the USAFE flag, he instituted 15 Combat and Special Interest Programs that have significantly improved mission readiness and quality of life throughout the command.

As the new USAFE commander, General Hobbins also has three other titles: commander, Allied Air Component Command Ramstein; air component commander, U.S. European Command, Ramstein AB, Germany; and director, Multinational Joint Air Power Competence Center, Kalkar, Germany.

General Hobbins is a 1969 Officer Training School graduate and command pilot with more than 4,275 flying hours. He entered the Air Force in December 1969 as a graduate of Officer Training School. He has commanded two tactical fighter wings and a composite air group. He has served as the Director of Plans and Operations for U.S. Forces Japan, Director of Plans and Policy for U.S. Atlantic Command, and the Director of Operations for U.S. Air Forces in Europe. As the USAFE Director of Operations, General Hobbins was responsible for the planning, beddown and execution of combat forces in Europe for Operation Allied Force. While serving as Commander, Air Forces Iceland, he led the composite wing in the intercept of 80 Soviet bomber aircraft in nine months. During his tenure as 12th Air Force Commander, General Hobbins deployed the 12th Air Force's Air Operations Center to Southwest Asia as operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom's alternate AOC prior to the beginning of the hostilities. He was confirmed for appointment to the grade of general and assignment as USAFE commander on Oct. 28, 2005. General Hobbins now leads USAFE, which includes more than 32,000 active-duty, reserve and civilian members.

USAFE’s mission is to plan, conduct and coordinate offensive and defensive air operations based on tasks assigned by the U.S. EUCOM commander. The command’s diverse responsibilities also include in-theater airlift and air refueling operations, and encompass 23 million square miles, from Greenland to Russia and Norway to Africa.