86th AW commander pins on first star

  • Published
  • By Capt. Megan A. Schafer
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Standing with his family at his side and in front of a room of Team Ramstein Airmen and partners from the Kaiserslautern Military Community, 86th Airlift Wing Commander Mark Dillon was formally promoted to brigadier general Sept. 2 in a ceremony at the Officer's Club here.

Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc, 3rd Air Force commander, presided over what he considers "the most important ceremony we do."

"It's not always about what you do, or what order you do it in, what matters is your commitment to serve," General Gorenc said. "As important as past performance is, promotion is the acknowledgement that this person has what it takes ... this is a person that can do great things to advance the airpower capabilities of the U.S. Air Force."

To achieve this success required not only General Dillon's individual effort and achievement, but a tremendous amount of support from others.

"The most important aspect of what we do is family, and their sacrifice. Thank you for all you do; thank you for sharing the journey," General Gorenc said to the Dillon family.  General Dillon's wife, Sarah, and sons Charlie, Jack and Luke were present to assist with the pin on

And it's been an interesting journey so far for their family having served in nearly a dozen assignments together over the years. 

"No matter where the Air Force moves us, it's always home," said General Dillon. "We are honored to serve with the men and women of Team Ramstein who do what we do ... and who do it for a cause much greater than themselves." 

General Dillon leads a wing composed of six groups and 29 squadrons across three bases in Germany, Spain and Belgium. The wing's mission is to conduct U.S. Air Forces in Europe's only airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation flying operations, as well as provide rapid mobility and expeditionary combat support for military operations. In his dual role as wing and KMC Commander, he leads the largest American community outside the United States, providing support to more than 57,000 personnel living and working on five separate installations: Ramstein, Sembach, Vogelweh, Einsiedlerhof and Kapaun Annexes. 

The star is the oldest continually used rank in the U.S. military. The use of the star to signify the rank of a general officer can be traced to a June 1780 decree by Gen. George Washington.