Showered with affection

Lt. Gen. Michael Wooley, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, is sprayed with a water hose by his wife, Kathy, and a fire extinguisher by his secretary, Tracy Norrad, following his finis, or final, flight Nov. 15 on the Hurlburt Field fliight line. General Wooley will relinquish command of AFSOC to Maj. Gen. Donnie Wurster Nov. 27. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Stephanie Jacobs)

A wet welcome

An AC-130H gunship piloted by Lt. Gen. Michael Wooley, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, rolls under a water arch provided by the 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron fire and emergency services flight, after landing at Hurlburt Field Nov.15. This was the general's finis, or final, flight before he relinquishes command of AFSOC Nov. 27. General Wooley will retire later this year after 35 years of service. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Stephanie Jacobs)

Keeping it in the family

Lt. Gen. Michael Wooley, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, holds his four-year-old grandson, Jackson LeBleu, following the general's finis, or final, flight Nov. 15 at Hurlburt Field, Fla. General Wooley will relinquish command of AFSOC to Maj. Gen. Donnie Wurster Nov. 27. and will retire later this year after 35 years of service. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Stephanie Jacobs)

Thirty-five year career on final approach

Published Nov. 19, 2007
By 1st Lt. Amy Cooper
AFSOC Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- A flying career spanning 35 years came in for its final approach today when the Air Force Special Operations Command commander landed here following his finis, or final, flight.

Lt. Gen. Mike Wooley took off from Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., in an AC-130H gunship and approximately three and one-half hours later landed at Hurlburt Field, Fla., on what was his last flight before his upcoming change of command and retirement.

After taxiing off the runway, the aircraft rolled under a water arch provided by the 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron fire and emergency services flight before coming to a stop in front of base operations.

The general's wife, Kathy, and his four-year-old grandson, Jackson LeBleu, doused him with a fire hose as he debarked the aircraft. Others sprayed him with water-filled fire extinguishers and traditional celebratory champagne.

For one of the bubbly wielding greeters, spraying a three-star general with champagne wasn't on his to-do list this morning.

"I thought they were playing around with me," said Amn. Richard Schwachenwald, 16th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, about being selected for the duty. "It was pretty cool that I was chosen."

Airman Schwachenwald has only been stationed at Hurlburt Field for two and a half weeks. Not to mention, the one-striper had never even seen a three-star general before.

"It's definitely something I'll remember," he said.

People from across the base were on the flight line to greet the commander and offer him congratulations.

"He is a magnificent leader who is very passionate about his commitment to the military," said Tracy Norrad, the general's secretary. "He always has his finger on the pulse."

General Wooley will relinquish command of AFSOC to Maj. Gen. Donny Wurster during a ceremony at 11 a.m. Nov. 27 in Freedom Hangar. He will retire later this year.