AFPC command changes hands Published Aug. 6, 2010 By Daniel P. Elkins Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs Office RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Command of managing personnel programs and carrying out policies affecting Air Force active-duty and civilian members changed hands in an afternoon ceremony here Aug. 6. Brig. Gen. A.J. Stewart became the Air Force Personnel Center's 24th commander during a change of command ceremony. The 29-year-career veteran succeeds Maj. Gen. K.C. McClain. Lt. Gen. Richard Newton III, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel at Washington, D.C., presided over the ceremony. "We have the world's most respected and feared Air Force. The secret to our success is not in our hardware or software, but it is our Airmen," said General Stewart, whose nomination for promotion to major general is awaiting confirmation. "Delivering personnel services translates to the way we take care of our Airmen." The new commander said he views his new role in terms of placing fully qualified people in the places they are most needed; training developing Airmen and civilians throughout their careers to meet the needs of the Air Force; ensuring a fair promotion system; ensuring families are well served by casualty affairs; meeting the needs of combatant commanders; and delivering personnel services to Airmen wherever they are by a variety of means. "It becomes clear that personnel management is indispensible - it is the central nervous system of the Air Force - impacting almost everything we do at home and downrange," he continued. "For us to continue to be the world's No. 1 Air Force, we have to get personnel management right." A career aviator, General Stewart previously served as the commander of Air Force Recruiting Service where he was responsible for accessions to sustain the combat needs of the Air Force. He believes serving as AFPC commander is a natural extension of his time in recruiting. "Through my experience at recruiting, I've had the wonderful opportunity to witness the quality of people the Air Force is able to attract to our service. I believe we have the best qualified workforce of any organization in America any way one can measure," he said. "Having spent the last two years pursuing the best, most talented young men and women in America, I will take great interest and pride in seeing them well taken care of by our personnelists." A 1981 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, General Stewart has served in a variety of KC-135 assignments, command positions and staff assignments. He has flown missions in support Operation Urgent Fury, the Iran-Iraq War and Operation Elf One. His assignments also include serving as director of the Air Component Coordination Element for Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa and director of mobility forces in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. General Stewart takes command of AFPC at a time when significant personnel initiatives are under way. Those include the transformation of personnel services delivery for the total force, managing the force to meet a congressionally mandated end strength, and a hiring surge of more than 21,000 employees for the Air Force Civilian Service in the next two years. "The Air Force relies very heavily on our civilian employees who are highly skilled and experienced, and also fill some critical deployment positions," he said. "Civilian employees provide long term continuity for enabling military leadership and fill leadership roles to meet the changing needs of the Air Force. The role civilians play in the total force vision is beyond critical ... it is absolutely essential." The general is eager to take on these and other personnel initiatives as the new AFPC commander. "This command will be a tremendous challenge - the responsibility to care for some 1.25 million total force Air Force personnel worldwide is a daunting task, but it will also present tremendous opportunities to make a difference in our people's lives and meet the needs of Air Force commanders to get our missions done," General Stewart said. "Whether it's continuing the transformation of the delivery of personnel services or spreading the word on force support issues, I am extremely humbled and honored to be given the chance to serve with the great people at AFPC." General McClain, who had commanded the center since January 2008, retired from the Air Force after 32 years of service in a ceremony that followed the change of command.