Barksdale Air Force Base —
Gen. Thomas Bussiere assumed command of Air Force Global Strike Command throughout a ceremony Dec. 7, turning into the latest chief of the group answerable for the nation’s solely intercontinental ballistic missile and strategic bomber forces.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., presided over the ceremony.
“You provide strategic deterrence, global strike and combat support, so the Air Force can execute our mission to fly, fight and win. Airpower anytime, anywhere!” Brown mentioned, talking to AFGSC Airmen. “I am thankful for the continued professionalism of the 34 thousand Global Strike Airmen who operate, sustain and secure two-thirds of the nation’s nuclear forces.”
With this variation of command, Bussiere turned the seventh commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. He is answerable for the nation’s fleet of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, the land-based element of the nuclear triad. He can be answerable for all of the nation’s strategic bombers, which embrace the nuclear-capable B-52H Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit, in addition to the conventional-only B-1B Lancer.
Addressing an at-capacity crowd of Airmen, distinguished guests, commanders and senior Air Force leaders at Barksdale’s historic Hoban Hall, Bussiere mentioned, “Our mission is important to our nationwide protection, and you’re important to our nationwide protection.
“Every commander, chief, enlisted member, officer and civilian, it will take a whole team to compete and win,” he added. “We can’t do this without you.”
The common additionally spoke of the legacy of the command and its lengthy historical past.
“Our proud legacy of long-range strike is in both NAFs, and we continue to follow their footsteps as we position ourselves for a new era of strategic competition,” he mentioned. The legacy and embodiment of long-range strike is true right here on this command.”
Bussiere is a 1985 graduate of Air Force ROTC from Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. He has served in a spread of flying, workers and command assignments, together with commander of eighth Air Force at Barksdale AFB, and deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He is a command pilot with greater than 3,400 hours within the T-38 Talon, F-15C Eagle, B-2A Spirit, B-1B Lancer and F-22 Raptor. He led F-15C fight missions throughout Operations Southern Watch and Vigilant Warrior and B-2 fight missions throughout Operations Allied Force and Iraqi Freedom.
“I am so humbled and proud to lead this historic command,” he mentioned. “Strikers, you are the best in the world at what you do, and I know you will continue to do great things for our nation.”
Bussiere assumed command from Gen. Anthony Cotton, who takes command of U.S. Strategic Command Dec. 9.
