3rd Air Force Commander requests retirement Published Jan. 8, 2014 By USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Statement from Lieutenant General Craig A. Franklin, 3rd Air Force commander: "After much consideration and discussion with my family, I am retiring from the Air Force. In the last 10 months as the Commander of Third Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force, my judgment has been questioned publicly regarding my decisions as a general court martial convening authority. This is a distraction for the Air Force and for my role as a general court martial convening authority. The last thing I want in this command, is for people to feel they cannot bring a sexual assault case forward or feel it won't be dealt with fairly. In addition, public scrutiny will likely occur on every subsequent case I deal with. I am concerned this could jeopardize the privacy of both the victim and the accused. Therefore, for the good of this command and the Air Force, I plan to retire. The Air Force has approved 31 January 2014 as my final day as the Third Air Force Commander. I entered the Air Force in 1977 as a new cadet at the Air Force Academy. Upon my retirement I will have worn the blue Air Force uniform for almost 37 years. It has been a distinct honor to serve the United States Air Force and this nation."