JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
The Air Force Civil Engineer Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland welcomed its new leader during an assumption of leadership ceremony July 13.
Brig. Gen. John Allen is the unit’s first active duty commander since the organization activated in 2012. Previous leaders were senior executive service civilian directors. Allen took command following the June 26 retirement of former director Terry G. Edwards.
As the commander, Allen leads one of four primary subordinate units of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center.
AFCEC executes civil engineering services in construction, energy, environment, housing, operations, planning, real property and readiness and emergency management on behalf of the Air Force enterprise around the globe.
During the assumption of leadership ceremony, AFIMSC Commander Maj. Gen. Tom Wilcox said AFCEC is “absolutely lucky to have the right person at the right time to come and lead.”
“Brig. Gen. Allen is that person who knows how to do the job, build lethality, build readiness, and operate within our mission sets to execute as the new commander for AFCEC,” Wilcox said.
Allen said he is looking forward to being on the AFCEC and AFIMSC teams and partnering with all the directors to deliver for the installation and mission support center.
“To the men and women of AFCEC, thank you for being the high performing organization you are and are known to be, and welcoming me into the fold,” Allen said during the virtual ceremony. “Thank you for supporting installations and their commanders, supporting civil engineer squadrons by leaning into them to make them successful amongst installation leadership.”
Allen now leads an organization of more than 1,900 people responsible for providing responsive, flexible full-spectrum installation engineering services. The center’s directorates support the CE enterprise and the Air Force at more than 75 locations worldwide.