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Air Force Special Operations Command welcomes new commander

By 1st Lt. Amy Cooper , AFSOC Public Affairs / Published November 27, 2007

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HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Air Force Special Operations Command ushered in a new commander today in Freedom Hangar at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Lt. Gen. Donny Wurster assumed command of AFSOC from Lt. Gen. Mike Wooley, during a ceremony presided over by Gen. Duncan McNabb, Air Force vice chief of staff.

"It's with the deepest respect and great admiration that I stand here today," Gen. McNabb said. "I stand on hallowed ground at Hurlburt Field. The legend of the Air Commandos and your remarkable accomplishments are legendary."

When he received the command guidon from General McNabb, General Wurster became the first AFSOC vice commander to move directly into the commander's seat. He is also the first helicopter pilot to be promoted to lieutenant general.

When he took the stage to address the crowd, General Wurster assured Admiral Eric Olson, U.S. Special Operations Command commander, that AFSOC will uphold its tradition of excellence.

"Where you tell us to go, we will go," General Wurster said. "What you tell us to do, we will do. We are your air component."

The new commander then implored AFSOC Airmen to perform as they have been trained.

"For every Air Commando, you know there may very well be a day when you will be thrust into history," he said. "Whatever your specialty...each of you has an important role to play. In an Air Force that is half the size it was when I joined, there is no extra."

The change of command also marked the end of a 35-year career for General Wooley who received the Distinguished Service Medal during the ceremony.

"I look at today as a celebration, a victory in a sense," General Wooley said. "One that I can call 'mission complete.'"

Before giving his final salute to the Air Commandos gathered in the hangar, the outgoing Commander offered his thanks to the men and women of AFSOC.

"There is no higher honor for an Air Force officer than to command," General Wooley said. "I've said it before - this is the best three-star job in the Air Force."

General Wooley will retire Jan. 1.