NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. – -- NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. – Maj. Gen. Peter E. Gersten will assume the command and responsibilities of the United States Air Force Warfare Center from Maj. Gen. Glen D. VanHerck during a change of command ceremony at 9 a.m. July 13, 2017, at the Thunderbird Hangar here.
The mission of the USAFWC 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.
The USAFWC oversees the operations of the 57th Wing, 99th Air Base Wing, Nevada Test and Training Range, and the Air Force Joint Test Program Office at Nellis AFB; the 53rd Wing at Eglin AFB, Florida; and the 505th Command and Control Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
Approximately 11,000 active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve service members and civilians located at 34 different locations across 22 states execute the USAFWC mission.
Gersten is a command pilot with more than 2,800 flight hours in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, MQ-1B Predator, MQ-9 Reaper and the RQ-170 Sentinel. Most recently, he was the Director of Strategic Plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB as a distinguished graduate in 1998.
VanHerck’s next assignment will be as the Deputy Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, J5 at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.
Media interested in covering this event should contact the 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office at 702-652-2750 extension #4 or 99abw.pacurrent@nellis.af.mil by noon July 12th.
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