General Brady assumes command of USAFE

  • Published
  • By Capt. Joel Harper
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Gen. Roger A. Brady ceremonially assumed command of United States Air Forces in Europe yesterday.

General Brady, who previously worked as Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., begins his term as USAFE commander eight years after he last left the command as its director of Plans and Programs.

"It is a great honor to serve as commander of USAFE," said General Brady. "I look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence with the men and women who partner with our friends in Europe and Africa."

General Brady shared his admiration for the contributions of USAFE Airmen and gave credit to his predecessor, Gen. Tom Hobbins, for his accomplishments.

"I've joined a great team," said General Brady. "I want to continue the tradition of excellence that's been established over decades with this command."

Facing today's challenges while developing Airmen is a priority, said General Brady.

"We need to be ready to fight tonight if we have to," said General Brady. "The most important weapon we have is our people. We must ensure they are ready to do the job and are appropriately trained, equipped, and ready to go."

USAFE must also prepare for the challenges of tomorrow by continuing to develop Airmen and increase interoperability with NATO and other European partners, General Brady added.

Joining General Brady at the ceremony was Chief Master Sgt. Pamela A. Derrow, new USAFE Command Chief Master Sergeant. Chief Derrow replaces Chief Gary Coleman, who will retire. Chief Derrow comes from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., where she served as commandant of the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy.

"USAFE Airmen have always risen to the challenge, no matter what the task," said Chief Derrow. "I am humbled to join this fine team, and I look forward to working with our Airmen to continue this legacy of success."

Today's ceremony was officiated by Gen. John Craddock, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. Also attending the ceremony were Air Chiefs and representatives of several nations and senior U.S. and German government officials.

General Brady entered the Air Force in 1969 as a graduate of the University of Oklahoma ROTC program. He has commanded a support group and flying training wing, and was vice commander of an air logistics center. General Brady has also served as a director of personnel, logistics, plans and programs, and operations at three Air Force major commands.

General Brady's experience in deployed operations includes service in Vietnam, deployment of NATO forces in support of Operation Desert Storm, securing coalition support for the stand-up of expeditionary wings during Operation Allied Force, and providing Total Force and Civil Reserve Air Fleet air mobility support to operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

General Brady is a command pilot with more than 3,000 hours in T-37, T-38, T-1, KC-135, C-21 and C-5. Prior to his current position, Gen. Brady was Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

As USAFE commander, General Brady also has three other titles: commander, Allied Air Component Command Ramstein; air component commander, U.S. European Command, Ramstein AB, Germany; and director, Multinational Joint Air Power Competence Center, Kalkar, Germany.

Lieutenant Gen. Rod Bishop served as interim commander since the Dec. 10 retirement ceremony of Gen. William T. Hobbins, who was the USAFE commander the past two years. General Bishop will continue his duties as commander of Third Air Force.

General Brady was promoted to the rank of General and took command of USAFE at a Jan. 9 ceremony at the Pentagon. General Brady formally assumed all of his duties, including his NATO and USEUCOM roles, upon his arrival earlier this week.

As the air component for U.S. European Command, USAFE directs air operations in a theater spanning three continents, covering more than 20 million square miles, containing 91 countries and possessing one-fourth of the world's population and about one-third of the world's Gross Domestic Product.