An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

23rd Air Force welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Capt. Amy Cooper
  • Air Force Special Operations Command public affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The 23rd Air Force welcomed a new commander during a ceremony in the Commando Auditorium here July 14. 

Col. Thomas Trask, who has been selected for promotion to brigadier general, assumed command of the Numbered Air Force from Brig. Gen. Michael Callan during the ceremony, presided over by Lt. Gen. Donny Wurster, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command. 

"The 23rd AF has a great history, and has been closely associated with special operations for all of its modern history," said General Wurster. "Mike, I thank you for your efforts here at Hurlburt. I hope you were taking notes as it looks like you'll be building another one of these from scratch for (Africa Command)." 

General Callan leaves the 23rd AF to become the 17th Air Force vice commander at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, the numbered Air Force supporting the newly-formed AFRICOM. During the ceremony, he was awarded the Legion of Merit first oak leaf cluster for his leadership since April 2006. 

"My sole message this afternoon is to briefly express the supreme pride I have in the many accomplishments of the men and women of the 23rd AF," said General Callan. "It's been an honor to witness their hard work and be part of this great team. I ask the men and women of the 23rd AF not to be satisfied with what they've done in the past, but to instead continue to set the bar even higher." 

Colonel Trask returns to AFSOC after serving as the Squadron Officer College commandant at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. He has several previous assignments in AFSOC and is a career MH-53 pilot. 

"Special operations is at the tip of the spear like it's never been before," Colonel Trask said. "Half of the things this command is working on weren't even a vision when I left AFSOC a little over four years ago. I'm very excited to be back and be back on your team." 

As the commander of 23rd AF, Colonel Trask is responsible for supporting the U.S. Special Operations Command and AFSOC commander's strategic, operational and tactical objectives across the full range of military operations. 

He is also dual-hatted as the AFSOC air, space and cyberspace director. In this role, Colonel Trask will implement and direct operational command policy for AFSOC's worldwide special operations units, including 12,900 people and $4 billion of assets.
 
"Our vocation as Airmen and air commandos is very special," said Colonel Trask. " We defend our nation's most treasured right--freedom-- and we are entrusted with our nation's most treasured resource--our sons and daughters--and I promise to remember that every day."