21st EMTF moves forward in JB-MDL change of command ceremony

Published Jan. 10, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Brig. Gen. Scott Goodwin took command of the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force from Brig. Gen. Michael Kim in a ceremony here, Jan 7.

General Kim was given temporary command of the 21st EMTF in August 2010 when its previous commander, Brig. Gen. Timothy Zadalis, was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan to be the director of air plans for the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan.

General Kim will resume his previous duties as the mobilization assistant to the director of operations at Air Mobility Command headquarters, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

General Goodwin comes to the Joint Base by way of the Pentagon, where he was the deputy director of operations for one of five teams staffing the national-level military command and control center there. His team was responsible for worldwide event monitoring, crisis response and strategic watch for the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Prior to his tour at the Pentagon he was commander of the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan. For his service to the people of Japan, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun with Gold Rays by its government.

General Goodwin is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours in the C-130, C-21, UH-1 and T-41 aircraft, including 154 combat and combat support hours in operations Just Cause, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Joint Endeavor and Iraqi Freedom.

The 21st EMTF oversees the 621st Contingency Response Wing and the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing.

These two specialized and unique wings provide mission-ready command and control, aerial port, aircraft maintenance and support Airmen. They also provide airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation and airfield opening planning and execution expertise, to project and sustain combat forces worldwide on short notice.

Speaking at the change of command ceremony, General Goodwin explained how the Air Force has evolved from its forward-based posture into a powerful structure that pulls deeply from its expeditionary roots,

"Our nation's fighting force is even more reliant on the capabilities the two EMTF's provide," he said. "Our fixed air terminals are critical linchpins in deploying, sustaining and redeploying the force. The deployable capabilities in our contingency response wings are vital to opening bases where none exist. Without either capability, the options we as a military can present to our national leaders would be very limited.

"I can't think of a more exciting time to be joining the EMTF as we strive to continue the tradition of excellence and expand it into new areas," said General Goodwin.