Williams takes command of 21st Air Force
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. (USTCNS) --- Maj. Gen. John Hopper, 21st Air Force commander, relinquished command to Maj. Gen. Nick Williams during a change-of-command ceremony here Oct. 12.
"It's a great day for the Air Force," said Gen. Tony Robertson, Air Mobility Command commander. "John had a distinguished and successful tour, and he's leaving 21st Air Force better than he found it. One word describes John and that is 'commander.'"
Hopper, who arrived here July 27, 1999, is heading to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, to become the Air Education and Training Command vice commander.
"This has been a wonderful assignment," said Hopper at the ceremony. "It's a bittersweet time for me and my wife, Tricia. I will always be in debt to the men and women of the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines who are willing to sacrifice to preserve the freedom that lets my daughter, Jessica, vote in the
next election. It has been my greatest honor to serve as your commander."
The new commander comes to the 21st after an assignment as the director of operations for Air Mobility Command Headquarters at Scott AFB, Ill.
"Three simple principles guided me well for years and I'm sure they'll serve me well here," said Williams. "They are integrity, safety and courtesy. General Hopper puts people first in his mind and so will I."
Williams' previous assignments include being the 60th Air Mobility Wing commander at Travis AFB, Calif., the 97th AMW commander at Altus AFB, Okla., and deputy chief of staff for plans and operations for Air Force Headquarters at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
A Reserve Officer Training Corps distinguished graduate from Southern Illinois University, Williams has since earned a Master of Arts degree in psychology and human relations from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo. He also completed the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va., and Air War College in Maxwell AFB, Ala.
In 1993, he attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., for the Program for Senior Officials in National Security, and later, the Program for Senior Managers in Government at the same school.
Williams, who has accumulated more than 5,000 flight hours on planes including the C-141, KC-10 and KC-135, has earned the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal, and Joint Service and Air Force Commendation Medals with one oak leaf cluster. (FROM AIRTIDES, MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J.).
"It's a great day for the Air Force," said Gen. Tony Robertson, Air Mobility Command commander. "John had a distinguished and successful tour, and he's leaving 21st Air Force better than he found it. One word describes John and that is 'commander.'"
Hopper, who arrived here July 27, 1999, is heading to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, to become the Air Education and Training Command vice commander.
"This has been a wonderful assignment," said Hopper at the ceremony. "It's a bittersweet time for me and my wife, Tricia. I will always be in debt to the men and women of the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines who are willing to sacrifice to preserve the freedom that lets my daughter, Jessica, vote in the
next election. It has been my greatest honor to serve as your commander."
The new commander comes to the 21st after an assignment as the director of operations for Air Mobility Command Headquarters at Scott AFB, Ill.
"Three simple principles guided me well for years and I'm sure they'll serve me well here," said Williams. "They are integrity, safety and courtesy. General Hopper puts people first in his mind and so will I."
Williams' previous assignments include being the 60th Air Mobility Wing commander at Travis AFB, Calif., the 97th AMW commander at Altus AFB, Okla., and deputy chief of staff for plans and operations for Air Force Headquarters at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
A Reserve Officer Training Corps distinguished graduate from Southern Illinois University, Williams has since earned a Master of Arts degree in psychology and human relations from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo. He also completed the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va., and Air War College in Maxwell AFB, Ala.
In 1993, he attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., for the Program for Senior Officials in National Security, and later, the Program for Senior Managers in Government at the same school.
Williams, who has accumulated more than 5,000 flight hours on planes including the C-141, KC-10 and KC-135, has earned the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal, and Joint Service and Air Force Commendation Medals with one oak leaf cluster. (FROM AIRTIDES, MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J.).
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