AMC's 18th Air Force welcomes new commander

Published Aug. 19, 2009
By Capt. Shilo Weir
18th Air Force Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Lt. Gen. Robert R. Allardice formally assumed command of the 18th Air Force from Maj. Gen. Winfield W. Scott III in a change-of-command ceremony Aug. 19 at the Scott Club.

"Thank you for the opportunity," said General Allardice. "I feel like today we stand on the shoulders of giants, fellow Airmen who have endured with incredible purpose, Airmen who have endured incredible perils."

"I believe that in this command we set the conditions for success for our country," the general said. "Whether it's a combat mission, a humanitarian mission, or some kind of natural response mission, this command sets the conditions for success of our nations."

The 18th Air Force is Air Mobility Command's sole warfighting numbered air force and is responsible for the command's worldwide operational mission. With more than 51,000 active-duty Airmen and more than 1,400 airlift and air refueling aircraft, 18th Air Force manages a streamlined organization that focuses the warfighting capability through the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, two expeditionary mobility task forces, 18 wings and one stand-alone group.

The 618th TACC serves as the command's air operations center, planning and directing tanker and transport aircraft operations around the world. The 15th and 21st EMTFs serve as the lead agencies for conducting mobility operations worldwide. They are the 18th AF's key to the execution phase of warfighting, providing worldwide expeditionary mobility support.

During General Scott's tenure his leadership directly supported the continued success in today's fight with execution of more than 177,000 airlift sorties; delivery of more than 2.5 million passengers, 846,000 tons of cargo, and offload of more than one billion pounds of fuel supporting combatant commanders worldwide.

General Scott oversaw the stand-up of four new wings and championed the creation of the first-ever C-130 active duty associate airlift squadron. The success of this endeavor led to the creation of future follow-on Total Force units at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and Scott AFB, Ill.

He coordinated aeromedical evacuations for more than 16,000 warrior patients, maintaining a 97 percent survivability rate on more than 300 urgent patients suffering life or limb injuries.

General Scott commanded the 18th AF since June 2008. He will retire from active-duty service in October of this year.

General Allardice is the fifth commander of 18th AF since its reactivation in 2003. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy, Headquarters U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla. from April 2008 to July 2009. He is a command pilot with more than 4,700 hours in the C-141, C-5 and C-17.

"Eighteenth Air Force...I am proud to command with you, I am proud to have been a part of you, I am proud to join once again the TRANSCOM team," General Allardice said. "I am very proud to serve as your 18th Air Force commander."