News>Retirement, appointment ceremonies to honor new, outgoing AF chiefs of staff
Photos
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrive at the Air Force transition ceremonies, where Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III succeeded Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz as the 20th chief of staff on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug.10, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
From left to right, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta; Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz; Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III; and James A. Roy, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, arrive at the transition ceremonies, where Welsh succeeded Schwartz as the 20th chief of staff on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 10, 2012. (DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley)
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta delivers remarks at the Air Force Retirement and Appointment Ceremony, where Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III succeeded Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz as the 20th chief of staff on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 10, 2012. (DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley)
An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter sits ready for action while on static display during the Air Force Chief of Staff transition ceremony on Aug. 10, 2012 at Joint Base Andrews, Md. During the ceremony, Gen. Norton Schwartz retired from active duty and passed on the duty of Air Force Chief of Staff to Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Perry Aston)
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard and U.S. Air Force Band perform a pass and review on Aug. 10, 2012, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. for the Air Force Chief of Staff transition ceremony. During the ceremony, Gen. Norton Schwartz retired from active duty and passed on the duty of Air Force Chief of Staff to Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Perry Aston)
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard and U.S. Air Force Band perform a pass and review on Aug. 10, 2012, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. for the Air Force Chief of Staff transition ceremony. During the ceremony, Gen. Norton Schwartz retired from active duty and passed on the duty of Air Force Chief of Staff to Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Perry Aston)
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard and U.S. Air Force Band perform a pass and review on Aug. 10, 2012, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. for the Air Force Chief of Staff transition ceremony. During the ceremony, Gen. Norton Schwartz retired from active duty and passed on the duty of Air Force Chief of Staff to Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Perry Aston)
8/13/2012 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A retirement ceremony honoring Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and an appointment ceremony for Gen. Mark A. Welsh III will take place Friday, Aug. 10, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Joint Base Andrews, Md.
Welsh, a 36-year Air Force veteran, will become the service's twentieth Air Force chief of staff. He most recently served as the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
His command was responsible for Air Force activities, conducted through 3rd Air Force, in an area of operations covering almost one-fifth of the globe. This area includes 51 countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and the Arctic and Atlantic oceans with a total population reaching nearly one billion people speaking more than 80 languages. He also had administrative control of U.S. Air Forces Africa, providing support, logistics and resources to U.S. Africa Command.
Schwartz will retire after a career spanning nearly four decades. As he left his office in the Pentagon for the final time Aug. 8, he was greeted by more than 200 Airmen and civilians who lined the hallways as a tribute.
Live coverage of the ceremonies will begin at 10:30 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) via the Pentagon Channel. A simulcast of the ceremony can be found on the Pentagon Channel's web site: http://www.pentagonchannel.mil. The video feed will also be available on the Air Force official web site at: http://www.af.mil/live.asp. Viewing on the Air Force Portal will be available through a splash screen when you log in.
Social media users can follow the ceremony on the Air Force's Facebook and Twitter pages accessible from the Air Force's official web site, hashtag #CSAFretires and #NewCSAF.
