ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. -- –
At a change-of-command ceremony today on Bolling Air Force Base, Washington. D.C., Maj. Gen. Ralph J. Jodice II assumed command of the Air Force District of Washington from Maj. Gen. Frank Gorenc, who is selected for reassignment as director, Air and Space Operations, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
Air Force vice chief of staff Gen. Duncan J. McNabb presided over the ceremony, which also included a change in enlisted leadership at AFDW. Chief Master Sergeant Paul W. Wheeler was entrusted with the command flag, symbolizing his acceptance of duties as AFDW's command chief master sergeant, replacing Chief Master Sergeant Lewis E. Monroe III.
General Jodice will lead AFDW, headquartered at Andrews AFB, Md., after serving as assistant deputy under secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon.
"To the men and women of AFDW, this is a very unique, interesting, challenging, and important mission we have not only here in the NCR, but across the globe," said General Jodice, who was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Parks College of St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo.
"Whether it is the 6,500 personnel at our two primary installations at Bolling and Andrews, or the numerous facilities located in northern Virginia, southern Maryland and the District, or the somewhere around 34,000 Airmen we support worldwide, our mission to provide superior service ... always, military support to civil authorities ... when asked, and effective contingency response ... when needed, demands dedication, commitment and discipline to get the job done right, the first time and every time," he said during his approximately 10-minute speech.
General Jodice listed five ways AFDW will accomplish its mission: providing combat air power to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace; taking care of our people; taking care of our people's people; training; and (providing) the right tools to do our mission and our job the right way.
"From musical instruments, to UH-1 helos, to computer servers, to global comms equipment, to appropriate ceremonial equipment and dress, to state of the art medical equipment, and, yes, to even the dreaded BlackBerry, our tools of the trade must ensure our highly visible missions will be executed with the utmost precision and accuracy which makes this command and AFDW the standout organization for which it has become famous."
General Jodice's previous assignments include tours at the Pentagon, Washington; the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China; Bolling Air Force Base, Washington; Sheppard AFB, Texas; Randolph AFB, Texas; Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.; Luke AFB, Ariz.; Osan Air Base, South Korea; Columbus AFB, Miss.; Royal Air Force Upper Heyford, England; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Holloman AFB, N.M.; Columbus AFB, Miss.; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
The general was promoted to major general Apr. 29, and has earned the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and Air Medal, among other major awards and decorations.
Outgoing commander General Gorenc noted that this was his fifth command tour, and it was an "honor and privilege" to have commanded the Airmen assigned to AFDW. "Together, we normalized the Air Force's youngest parent command. Together, we integrated with the Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and Joint Task Force CapMed to better support the Homeland Security mission. Together, we move joint basing and privatization efforts from theory to reality. Together, we did many things to realize our very important mission."
During his speech, he thanked General McNabb for his "continuing confidence;" his "true blue Air Force" family, for their support and selfless sacrifices that "enabled my dream and inspired successes;" and his brother, retired Maj. Gen. Stanley Gorenc, for his mentorship, motivation and his continuing "wise and calm counsel."