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Silveria assumes command of U.S. Air Force Warfare Center

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Kelley J. Stewart
  • 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Brig. Gen. Jay Silveria assumed command of the U.S. Warfare Center from Lt. Gen. Lori Robinson, Air Combat Command vice commander, in front of Airmen at the Thunderbird Hangar Feb. 21.

Silveria, who has been selected for promotion to major general, was the vice commander 14th Air Force, Air Forces Strategic, at Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

The ACC vice commander noted the extraordinary Airmen in the crowed saying, "I want you to know how proud I am of what you have accomplished, and what you continue to provide for our Air Force and our nation."

She was also proud to welcome Silveria back to ACC and to the USAFWC during the ceremony. He had been ACC's Inspector General from July 2010 to March 2012.

"You are taking command of our Air Force's premier training and tactics organization," Robinson said. "The things our Airmen learn here equip them to win today's wars and to be ready for tomorrow's fight."

The USAFWC is oversees operations with 11,000 total force Airmen and civilians in 22 states and 32 different locations to include 57th Wing, 99th Air Base Wing and the Nevada Test and Training Range at Nellis AFB; the 53rd Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla.; the 505th Command and Control Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla.; and the Air Force Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities at Schriever AFB, Colo.

The USAFWC's mission is to develop innovative leaders and full spectrum capabilities through responsive, realistic and relevant Air Force and joint testing, tactics development, and advanced training across all levels of war.

"Jay, as you take command of this organization, I know you and Virginia are the right team to lead these amazingly talented and resilient Airmen and their families," Robinson said.

The new USAFWC commander told the audience he was happy to be at Nellis AFB and back in ACC.

"It is great for Virginia and me to be among so many friendly faces," he said. "It has the feeling of coming home."

Silveria highlighted the integration of air and space forces, virtual testing, tactics development, advanced training, and other missions the USAFWC does on a daily basis.

"All of these areas are crucial to the Air Force and crucial to our nation," he said. "Your work gives our national decision-makers options; they have these options knowing that our combat air forces are the best trained and most capable in the world."

Robinson thanked Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Lofgren, the former USAFWC commander, and his wife, Suzanne, for their leadership.

"As everyone knows, the problem with great leaders is they are hard to hold on to - [General] Lofgren is one of these great leaders," she said.

This sentiment was echoed by Silveria.

"Our creed tells us to be faithful of our proud heritage and heritage of the warfare center goes back to the Tactical Fighter Weapons Center nearly 50 years ago, and [General] Lofgren is part of that heritage of excellence," he said.

Lofgren's new position is at the Combined Air and Space Operations Center as the deputy combined air forces air component commander in Southwest Asia.

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