General Wilson steps up to lead 'The Mighty Eighth'
By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives, Eighth Air Force Public Affairs
/ Published June 03, 2011
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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Brig. Gen. Stephen Wilson renders his first salute to the members of the Eighth Air Force after assuming command at Hoban Hall on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., June 3. General Wilson comes to the Mighty Eighth from Headquarters Air Force in Washington D.C. where he was the Joint Integration Directorate of Operational Capability Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Joanna M. Kresge)
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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Brig. Gen. Stephen Wilson, Eighth Air Force commander, addresses the audience at the conclusion of the Eighth Air Force change-of-command held at Hoban Hall located on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., June 3. General Wilson comes to the Mighty Eighth from Headquarters Air Force in Washington D.C. where he was the Joint Integration Directorate of Operational Capability Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony)
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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Airmen of the Eighth Air Force render a salute to their outgoing commander, Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter, during the Eighth Air Force change-of-command ceremony held at Hoban Hall on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., June 3. General Carpenter relinquished command of "The Mighty Eighth" to Brig. Gen. Stephen Wilson. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony)
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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Airmen of the 608th Air Operations Squadron stand at parade rest during the Eighth Air Force change-of-command ceremony held at Hoban Hall on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., June 3. Brig. Gen. Stephen Wilson accepted command of "The Mighty Eighth" during the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony)
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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Col. Robert Gass, Eighth Air Force vice commander, stands at parade rest during the Eighth Air Force change-of-command ceremony held at Hoban Hall on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., June 3. Brig. Gen. Stephen Wilson accepted command of "The Mighty Eighth" during the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony)
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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter, former Eighth Air Force commander, sings "God Bless America" with the Blue Horizon Quartet during his retirement ceremony at Hoban Hall on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., June 3. General Carpenter served 33 years on active duty and has logged more than 3,000 flight hours in the B-52H Stratofortress. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --
Brig. Gen. Stephen W. Wilson assumed command of Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force at historic Hoban Hall here June 3.
At the same ceremony, General Wilson also became commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike of U.S. Strategic Command, headquartered at Offutt AFB, Neb.
Navy Vice Adm. Cecil D. Haney, Strategic Command's deputy commander, and Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, presided.
After accepting the Eight Air Force guidon from General Kowalski, General Wilson addressed the audience and the formation of nearly 100 Eighth Air Force Airmen.
"I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled and honored I am to stand here before you," he said. "Since its inception 1942, there is no more legendary or storied numbered air force in our history -- with leaders with names like Eaker, Spaatz, Doolittle, Harris, Carlson, Elder and Carpenter."
"In today's uncertain world, Eighth Air Force, Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike and Task Force 204 play a prominent role in our national security," the general said.
General Wilson's most recent a position was deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He is a 1981 graduate of Texas A&M University and has directed combat forces in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
General Wilson is a command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours and 680 combat hours.
Eighth Air Force falls under Air Force Global Strike Command, supports U.S. Joint Forces Command, and is designated as U.S. Strategic Command's Task Force 204, providing on-alert, combat-ready forces to the president. Eighth Air Force controls long-range nuclear-capable B-2 and B-52 bombers for conventional operations and nuclear deterrence.