ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- On April 29, Air Force Reserve Command said farewell to Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Pennington and welcomed Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield III as the new deputy commander. The successful operation of AFRC relies heavily on the deputy commander as he serves as my full-time eyes and ears at the command, executing my priorities.
The DCOM directs and coordinates the activities of the headquarters staff, ensuring adherence to command policies and the synchronization of mission execution between the major command and the Numbered Air Forces. Maj. Gen. Pennington went above and beyond serving in this position and I have no doubt that Maj. Gen. Bradfield will do the same.
As we say goodbye to Maj. Gen. Pennington, we also celebrate the end of his distinguished 36-year long career of service and dedication to our nation. During his time, he held numerous key leadership positions across the Air Force Reserve, excelling at every turn, and culminating as our AFRC DCOM. His leadership, management and oversight guaranteed the Reserve was always ready and our Airmen were cared for. His commitment to excellence ensured the HQ staff operated efficiently and in the best interest of the AFR, its allies and partners.
Thank you, Jeff. You answered the call to serve and always ensured our Air Force Reserve was ready. Your dedication to your job and our Airmen serves as a motivator for us all. Your service in the Air Force is the embodiment of our core values, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve with you. I wish you, Lisa, Pierce and Keenan the very best.
With our farewell comes a warm welcome to Maj. Gen. Bradfield, his wife Julie, and their sons, Ben and Tim. Maj. Gen. Bradfield brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our command. With 11 years in the U.S. Navy and 21 years in the Air Force Reserve, his leadership experience spans a variety of mission areas, including search and rescue, fighters, special operations, strategic airlift, joint strategy, plans and policy, and most recently our Plans, Programs and Requirements Directorate in AF/RE at the Pentagon. His dedication to service and leadership is exemplary, and we are excited to welcome him to our team.
During his recent visit to HQ AFRC in March, Maj. Gen. Bradfield was impressed by the support and camaraderie of our command staff. I am relying on Maj. Gen. Bradfield to continue the spirit of collaboration to set a strong foundation to achieve our priorities. His focus aligns with my TASKORD, ensuring we remain an agile, responsive and combat-capable force in this era of Great Power Competition.
Maj. Gen. Bradfield’s proactive leadership, driven by data-backed insights, empowers his full understanding of our mission. He will ensure our command is accomplishing our operational, financial, recruiting, retention and programmatic goals while providing guidance to guarantee we are always ready to execute the mission. He is committed to an environment of growth and well-being for our Airmen and their families, ensuring that each member of our team is capable and ready to execute.
I am confident that under Maj. Gen. Bradfield’s leadership, we will continue to excel and uphold the proud legacy of the Air Force Reserve. Please join me in welcoming Maj. Gen. ‘Anchor’ Bradfield and his family to our command. Anchor, we know you are going to be a tremendous asset to the HQ team – Now let’s get to work!