OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFPN) -- Osan Air Base Airmen began a new chapter for the primary combat air force provider to South Korea as the Pacific Air Forces commander uncased the 7th Air Force, Air Forces Korea flag Jan. 30 here.
Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler appointed Lt. Gen. Stephen G. Wood as the 7th Air Force, Air Forces Korea commander as more than 2,000 Airmen, South Korean military members and South Korean nationals were in attendance for the ceremony.
This redesignation ceremony begins a new chapter in the transformation of forces in South Korea.
This redesignation effort marks the implementation of the chief of staff of the Air Force's direction to establish an Air Force component organization that is structured to operate and train every day in its wartime configuration. Warfighting organizations are being stood up around the globe to enable the effective command and control of air, space and cyberspace forces conducting missions across the spectrum of military operations.
"This change enhances our ability to fly, fight and win," General Wood said. "It enables us to better provide critical component capabilities to the U.S. Forces Korea commander ensuring a key element of the joint and coalition operations on the
Korean peninsula."
The 7th Air Force, Air Forces Korea operates more than 100 combat and combat support aircraft with the strength of more than 7,800 Airmen and civilians,
supporting the South Korean/U.S. alliance.
After assuming command, General Wood redesignated one group, inactivated two
and activated another in an effort to consolidate and streamlined the
organization to include an Air and Space Operations Center, an Air Force Forces staff, and a new support group. The changes include:
-- Redesignation of the 607th Air Operations Group to the 607th Air and
Space Operations Center.
-- Inactivation of the 607th Combat Operations Squadron and the 607th Combat Plans Squadron.
-- Stood up the 607th Support Group.
7th Air Force, Air Forces Korea leads Airmen in planning and directing air component operations in South Korea and Northeast Asia in support of U.S. Pacific Command, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea.
