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Command of 4th Air Force changes hands

  • Published
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. --  Hundreds of people here watched Maj. Gen. Robert E. Duignan turn over command of 4th Air Force to Brig. Gen. Eric W. Crabtree Jan. 25.

Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., chief of Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command, presided over the ceremony.

After relinquishing command, General Duignan retired from the Air Force with 36 years of service.

Before accepting command of 4th Air Force, General Crabtree was commander of the Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver. He commanded 4th Air Force's 446th Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., from August 2003 to September 2007.

At the ceremony, General Crabtree said, "We need to learn and align with the priorities of our new administration, especially in terms of budgeting for our mission needs in the current economy.

"I know the men and women of 4th Air Force are working hard globally to accomplish the mission," he said. "I pledge to be your strongest advocate, to help you be our best and most effective organization for today's Air Force." (Air Force Reserve Command News Service from a 4th Air Force news release)