9th Air Force commander changes hands at Shaw

Associated Press

SUMTER, S.C. - The new commander of the 9th Air Force at Shaw says his top priority will be ensuring all wings and command groups are trained and ready to execute orders of the U.S. Central Command leaders.

Lt. Gen. Gary North succeeded Lt. Gen. Walter Buchanan during a change of command ceremony Thursday. Buchanan will retire April 1 after 34 years of service.

North, who returns to Shaw Air Force Base for the third time in his 29-year career, will be welcoming the 3rd Army headquarters, which is scheduled to begin moving to Shaw in October 2007. The 3rd Army will bring about 900 soldiers and 2,000 dependents to the area.

"We're looking forward here at Shaw to work ... with the 3rd Army and integrate them into the community," North said.

The Charlottesville, Va., native served two tours at Shaw in the 1980s, and his two sons were born at the base hospital.

Indicative of the 9th's role under Central Command, representatives from the four armed services attended the ceremony.

North has more than 4,100 hours in the cockpit. He flew 54 combat missions during Desert Storm and patrols of no-fly zones over Iraq. He was previously operations director for the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii.

Students and faculty of the Air Force ROTC program at East Carolina University, where North graduated in 1976 with distinction, also attended.

North is the highest-ranking Air Force officer to graduate from the ECU program, said Lt. Col. Dennis Millsap, commander of Detachment 600 and a professor of aerospace studies.

"It means a heckuva heck of a lot to the program," added retired Lt. Col. Carl Tadlock, who headed the ECU program from 1976 to 1980. "It shows the students what they can rise to."

Buchanan took over in August 2003, succeeding Gen. T. Michael Moseley, who presently is Air Force chief of staff.

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