Numbered Air Force commander tours Luke

  • Published
  • By Capt. Gerardo Gonzalez
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 19th Air Force commander visited Luke Sept. 24 through 26 as part of his initial orientation of the command since taking charge of the numbered Air Force headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, on July 30. 

Maj. Gen. Greg Feest toured base facilities during his three-day trip and met with Airmen and civilians to learn more about the 56th Fighter Wing challenges and initiatives. 

Luke is the first base General Feest has visited since assuming command and he expressed his pride in the work being done by the men and women here. 

"I am happy to be here and I appreciate everything you are doing," said General Feest, during an officer's call at Club Thunderbolt. "The motto of 19th Air Force is 'providing future airpower now' and that's what you do." 

General Feest is no stranger to Luke and its aircrew training mission. The general himself was an F-15C Eagle student pilot here back in 1984. He is also no stranger to Air Education and Training Command, having served in several positions at the wing and headquarters level within AETC. 

The general -- a former F-117A Nighthawk pilot who served in combat during Operations Just Cause and Desert Storm -- praised Luke Airmen for their role in helping current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

"You are training aircrews so we can get them over to the war and support that effort," said General Feest. "I also want to thank all of you that have deployed." 

The 56th FW supports more deployments than any other wing in 19th Air Force, he said.
"Let's remember all those that are over there," the general said. "Let's keep training aircrews to go over there and do a great job supporting the Marines and Soldiers that are on the ground." 

General Feest also took time to answer questions from wing Airmen on several issues, including pilot training, manpower challenges and the current state of the Air Force after the recent step down of the services top leaders. The general is optimistic about the future. 

"We are moving on in a positive way," he said, regarding the Air Force. 

He also addressed questions about "in-lieu-of" deployment taskings where Airmen and Sailors are sent to work with the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. The general believes the taskings will continue and are necessary to ensure mission success in the joint fight.
"Both services [Air Force and Navy] are committed to helping out [the Army]," General Feest said. 

The general was impressed with the wing and he also lauded the support from outside the gate. 

"This wing is outstanding," he said. "You have a great community here and this community supports you all." 

As commander of 19th Air Force, General Feest is responsible for managing all flying training within AETC. The command includes 25 active-duty training locations and has operational oversight over three Air National Guard units. It also commands more than 31,000 people and operates over 1,800 aircraft.