New commander takes over Air Force’s largest combat wing

TSgt Joe C. good change of command read/share:

Brig. Gen. Joel Carey assumed responsibility of the 18th Wing, the Air Force’s largest combat air wing, on Monday from Brig. Gen. Case Cunningham, the outgoing commander.

Six years ago, Carey replaced Cunningham as vice commander of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar, Afghanistan.

“From Kandahar to the Pacific, I’ve had a large but fun challenge to fill your shoes more than once,” Carey said during a change-of-command ceremony inside a hangar. “Your fingerprints on this mission and organization are so clear to me.”

The 18th Wing provides combat and aeromedical evacuation capability for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Its pilots fly F-15C fighter jets, KC-135 refueling tankers, HH-60 helicopters and E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control Systems aircraft.

Cunningham, the wing commander at Kadena since July 2017, turned over to Carey the largest Air Force installation in the Pacific — home to more than 23,000 servicemembers and their families, contractors and Japanese employees, according to Kadena’s website.

“Two years ago, when I took command, I said the challenge will be about giving time that is required both in courageous and exemplary leadership in every single level,” Cunningham told servicemembers and local dignitaries at the ceremony. “You delivered in an absolute and huge way in that challenge.”

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