JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The United States Air Force Expeditionary Center commander welcomed five former USAF EC and Air Mobility Warfare Center commanders to the USAF EC Jan. 28, 2014.
USAF EC Commander, Maj. Gen. Rick Martin, invited the former commanders to a day devoted to celebrating the heritage of, what is now, the USAF EC.
"It was truly an honor to welcome back these significant leaders who commanded here before me," said Martin. "The opportunity to meet face-to-face with each of these former commanders and get their candid feedback about the USAF EC was invaluable and we were privileged to host the event."
The five former commanders, each with unique résumés comprising various educational backgrounds, command positions, and career experience, served as leaders between 1997 and 2010, playing important roles in the center's development and transformation over the years.
The day began with Martin providing a brief about the current state of the USAF EC to give the former commanders an update on how the center operates today.
Many of the former commanders commented during the briefing that a major change they noticed about the center was the USAF EC's responsibility as a Numbered Air Force equivalent rather than solely a school, which is how it was during their commands.
"When I was commander, we were simply a school house for the Air Force providing air mobility education as well as expeditionary training," said retired Maj. Gen. Richard "Rick" Devereaux who served as USAF EC commander from 2009-2010. "Now they're so much more than that ... which I think has been a great development for our Air Force by consolidating all those organizations under one very prominent commander."
The generals also attended a brief on integrated technology, toured the building and ended the afternoon with a final overview discussion with Martin.
"It's very gratifying to see that the Expeditionary Center has evolved into something even better than when I was in command," said retired Lt. Gen. William "Bill" Welser, who commanded the AMWC from 1997-1999. "I always say that when you're in command, you put a brick on the foundation and the commanders who have come after me have continued to lay bricks so the Warfare Center, now the Expeditionary Center, is as strong as it's ever been."
The AMWC was established in 1994 and was named as such until 2007, when it was re-designated the USAF EC. Three of the five commanders in attendance at the event held command when the USAF EC was the AMWC.
"It was great to see the people and the strides the Expeditionary Center has made in the 14 years since I've been gone. I visited here five years ago and it was great then and it's even greater now," said retired Maj. Gen. Silas "Si" Johnson who served as the AMWC commander from 1999-2000.
The opportunity to come back and see a center at which they worked so hard to advance was a monumental occasion for many of the generals and many said they have high hopes for how the USAF EC will progress in the future.
"The Expeditionary Center will face huge challenges in the future, but the people here are up to those challenges and they'll find a way to meet those challenges," said retired Lt. Gen. Christopher "Chris" Kelly, who served as the AMWC commander from 2002-2005. "It is a very bright future for the Expeditionary Center."