New mobility commander to continue raising the bar

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Gen. T. Michael Mosley, Air Force Chief of Staff, takes the Air Mobility Command guideon from General Duncan McNabb, AMC commander, at the AMC change of ceremony Sept 7. Gen McNabb will move on to be the Air Force vice chief of staff. (Photo by Airman 1st Class Jessica Lockoski)

New mobility commander to continue raising the bar

Published Sept. 14, 2007
By Roger Drinnon
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE. Ill, -- -- Air Mobility Command's new commander said he will strive to deliver what America and the command's Airmen deserve: a continued pursuit of excellence in global air mobility.

"We're going to keep raising the bar -- we'll keep going farther and farther with this command," said Gen. Arthur Lichte after the change-of-command ceremony here, Sept. 7. "My plan is, over the next couple of months, to go out and visit all the Air Mobility Command bases and then put together a game plan."

He said efforts to recapitalize the mobility fleet will remain a top priority.

"You can expect I'll be continuing on with the plan the Air Force has for Air Mobility Command," he said, emphasizing the next-generation tanker, KC-X, as the Air Force's number one acquisition priority.

"Bringing on a new tanker is our top priority," he said. "Having been a tanker guy myself over the years, we need to move on with the (KC-X) program. We need to keep modernizing and recapitalizing our Air Force."

General Lichte comes to AMC from the Pentagon, where he was the assistant vice chief of staff of the Air Force. He replaces Gen. Duncan McNabb, who moves on to become the Air Force vice chief of staff. General Lichte, who has served in a number of positions throughout AMC and at U.S. Transportation Command headquarters, said he's honored to serve at Scott again.

"The command has a fine tradition and a great legacy," said General Lichte. "I'm happy to have the opportunity to be (AMC's) commander."