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General returns from SWA to command 4th Air Force

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Zach Anderson
  • 4th Air Force Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. --  Brig. Gen. Mark A. Kyle assumed command of 4th Air Force from Maj. Gen. Eric W. Crabtree at a change-of-command ceremony in the C-17 hangar here March 12.

Before becoming commander of 4th Air Force, General Kyle served as director of mobility forces for U.S. Air Forces Central in Southwest Asia.

General Crabtree became the numbered air force commander in January 2009. In his new assignment, he will serve as deputy director of U.S. Strategic Command Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (SCC-WMD) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.

Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., chief of Air Force Reserve at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and commander of Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., served as the presiding officer for the change of command ceremony.

After the passing of the 4th Air Force guidon from General Crabtree to General Kyle, signifying the official change of command, General Kyle took the microphone to address the Airmen of 4th Air Force for the first time as their commander.

"Would the formation stand at ease, please? This is your new boss talking! Stand at ease!" he exclaimed, bringing a round of laughter from the crowd and a bit of relief to the Airmen standing in the official ceremonial formation.

General Kyle thanked General Stenner and the people who organized the ceremony and gave a special thanks to his wife, Melissa, for her support throughout his military career.

More than 150 guests were on hand at the ceremony to welcome General Kyle as new commander and bid farewell to General Crabtree. The crowd included family, friends, military members and prominent community leaders as well as local and state legislative officials. Some 260 Airmen stood in formation at the ceremony.

"My job here has been a challenge," said General Crabtree in his remarks to the crowd. "I would not have succeeded were it not for the staff of 4th Air Force and the men and women in the commands of the 11 wings and three groups.

"The things you have taught me and the things I have learned from being your leader will help me," he said. "I know you will provide General Mark Kyle the same kind of high-quality support you have provided me."

In his message to the troops, General Kyle said, "To the 4th Air Force staff: Hang on. To the wing commanders and command chiefs: Lace it up.

"My message to 4th Air Force is simple: We have work to do," he said. "There is lots on the horizon. I promise you totally open communication and unfettered access to me and the process as we evolve. I am 100 percent committed to this. Let's get to work."