JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Maj. Gen. John Klein assumed command of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center during a change-of-command ceremony here August 17, 2022, officiated by Gen. Mike Minihan, Air Mobility Command commander.
Klein took command from Maj. Gen. Mark Camerer, outgoing USAFEC commander, who is retiring after 33 years of service.
The USAFEC is the Air Force's preeminent authority for expeditionary operations and supports AMC’s worldwide mission of providing Rapid Global Mobility to America’s armed forces.
With more than 14,000 Airmen, the USAFEC is comprised of the Air Force Expeditionary Operations School, five AMC wings and two stand-alone groups, including the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, 87th Air Base Wing, 621st Contingency Response Wing, 628th Air Base Wing, 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group, and 627th Air Base Group.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the lethality and tempo required to win the next big fight will not only stem from the expertise generated from this Expeditionary Center, it will be the defining factor in our victory,” Minihan said. "The promise of delivery is something relied upon by our nation's leaders, and I take great comfort in knowing you stand watch ready to project American airpower anytime, anywhere."
During the ceremony, nearly 14,000 Airmen heard Klein express how impressed he was of their efforts during Operation Allies Refuge and emphasize their vital role in the mobility mission.
“We stand ready to generate airpower from the ground up in the form of world class joint basing, expeditionary education and training, contingency response and global humanitarian operations whenever and wherever it is needed” Klein said.
Klein returns to the Expeditionary Center where he was previously the vice commander from August 2019 to July 2020.