ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
I am humbled and honored to join this current "greatest generation" of Airmen serving at the center of a critical time and place for our nation.
Andrews is indeed a special place. Arguably our best-known Air Force base, emblematic and central to the support of our national leadership, Team Andrews, as many of you well know, shoulders the greatest of responsibilities.
As the mission statement reads, its contingency response capability for the National Capital Region, support to the President and senior leaders, and ability to provide a secure installation and infrastructure support to over 50 mission partners that team to guard this region, is critical to national security. At our nation's center of gravity, it is the principal military airfield and a main line of defense against the enemy. Moreover, it serves as ambassador to the nation and to our allies around the world that travel here. Today's global war on terror is non-linear and aimed here at our center of mass -- in other words, the enemy is at our door and we need to always be ready, unified and effective at securing it. And you excel in this mission while training, equipping and sending forces to our downrange expeditionary units.
It is difficult to grasp how you manage to do it all, but I learned the answer firsthand over the last year in Iraq, serving with many of you in our joint fight against terrorism and seeing your pivotal impact on our success there.
For example, warriors from our 1st Helicopter Squadron like Maj. Pat Hanford and Staff Sgt. Jimmy Houston who trained the Iraqi Air Force in new systems and tactics to bring the crucial effects of airpower to stability operations.
Others from our Civil Engineering Squadron like Tech. Sgt. Michael Fink and Staff Sgt. Darren Knowlton, put their lives on the line with Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams in order to take down the most lethal threat to our service members, the Improvised Explosive Device. Over the last year, these teams cut attacks by this killer by fivefold, to fewer than 20 per day across the entire Iraqi Theater of Operations.
Logistics experts like our Staff Sgt. Tina Ivory and the new 89th Aerial Port Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Tim Lee, managed the transfer of more cargo and passengers per day than that moved by our principal hubs of McChord, McGuire and Travis AFBs combined. The precision airpower successes over the year would have been impossible without their support.
Many Security Forces warriors like Tech. Sgt. Eric Marsh and Airman 1st Class Skipper Marvin have faced the streets of Iraq daily as they trained local police to bring the rule of law and sustained order to this new democratic ally.
Finally, medical technicians from the 79th Medical Wing like Master Sgt. Pedro Candelario have been part of the historic successes in saving our wounded warriors -- at an unprecedented survival rate of 98 percent. They have helped to save countless lives of both Americans and Iraqis.
And there are many more such heroes among us, and deployed from us.
The results speak for themselves. You, our Airmen, do not realize how good you truly are. And you continue to strive every day. You have built joint success and have sustained it amidst tough challenges, on the line downrange and here at the heart of our nation. You are indeed our Air Force's most important and effective resource, and you are at your best right now. Rightly so, for this is a critical time in our history and never before have we needed selfless men and women of excellence and discipline holding the line and the skies.
These times recall the thoughts of one of our first patriots, as the enemy of freedom closed on our first capital... "These are the times that try [our] souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." (Thomas Payne)
I can tell you that it's with deep respect and honor that I join this team and aim to continue its great legacy as we grow bigger and better. Whether military or civilian; active, guard or reserve; Air Force, Army, Navy or Marine; with such talent, we will best succeed together as a team.