Gen. Mark Kelly bid farewell to Air Combat Command (ACC) as Gen. Ken Wilsbach took over as the new commander during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin presided over the ceremony, highlighting the crucial role ACC will play in the Air Force’s reoptimization for Great Power Competition. Gen. Wilsbach, who previously served as commander of Pacific Air Forces, now oversees over 156,000 Total Force Airmen and civilians worldwide.
During the ceremony, Gen. Wilsbach shared his vision for ACC’s future, emphasizing the need to create dilemmas for China through readiness, modernization, and Agile Combat Employment. He expressed his commitment to continuing the work started by Gen. Kelly and expanding on it. ACC serves as the primary force provider of combat airpower to America’s warfighting commands, organizing, training, equipping, and maintaining combat-ready forces for rapid deployment and employment.
Gen. Wilsbach stressed the importance of prioritizing the well-being of ACC personnel, stating that high-performing team members are essential to accomplishing the mission. He highlighted the motto “People First, Mission Always” and reiterated the focus on ensuring that individuals have the support and resources needed to excel. Gen. Kelly, who is retiring after nearly four decades of service, was praised for his outreach and support of other MAJCOMS in the Lead MAJCOM role, leaving ACC in a strong position for the future.
