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380AEW Article

USAFCENT Air Warfare Center command changes hands for first time

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The U.S. Air Forces Central Command and Combined Forces Air Component Commander visited the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Aug. 15 to engage with host nation partners here and speak at the U.S. AFCENT Air Warfare Center change of command ceremony.

Lt. Gen. David Goldfein welcomed everyone to the historical ceremony, which included host nation leadership as well as leaders and members of the 380th AEW. It was the center's first change of command since its activation in July 2011.

Col. Robert Swaringen passed command of the U.S. AFCENT AWC to Col. Daniel Tippet during the ceremony.

During the event, the CFACC thanked the host nation partners and leaders in attendance for being gracious hosts. He also thanked them for their part in nurturing the partnership that enables the 380th AEW's and AWC's accomplishments.

"The members of the AFCENT Air Warfare Center operate on the cutting edge of diplomacy and military operations as they build partnerships, tactical capabilities and interoperability through integrated training and exercises," Goldfein said. "The better we become as coalition partners, the better we can ensure our mutual defense and regional stability."

He then thanked Swaringen for his "calm and steady" leadership over the last year before lauding Tippet as being "perfectly suited" to lead the center.

"Know this, I only get the best to command," Goldfein said. "I only put forth one name, and I get everyone I ask for."

Tippet comes to the U.S. AFCENT AWC following his position as the 57th Adversary Tactics Group commander at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

"Thank you for this awesome opportunity to lead the AFCENT Air Warfare Center," Tippet said. "I'm excited to join the team here and to continue building upon the fantastic foundation that (Swaringen) and this talented group of folks have put in place thus far.

"In this critical time in history, I can think of no task more important that to train together with our (host nation) partners, expand interoperability and build partnership capacity with our friends, coalition partners and allies in this part of the world."

Swaringen now heads to Langley AFB, Va.

"What I have told members of our team many times, is you're going to look back 20 to 50 years from now, and you may see the name change, and you'll see the faces change, but you will see this as an enduring partnership, because it works," he said. "It's one team here."