FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Brig. Gen. Leonard A. Patrick, commander, 502nd Air Base Wing/Joint Base San Antonio, has been selected as commander, Second Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
In this new position, General Patrick will be responsible for the development, oversight and direction of all operational aspects of basic military training, initial skills training and advanced technical training for the Air Force enlisted force and support officers. He has held his present position since July 2009.
The Second Air Force mission is to produce the world's best trained, combat ready Airmen to support combat readiness as we build the world's most respected air and space force. To carry out this mission, Second Air Force manages all operational aspects of nearly 2,500 active training courses taught to approximately 245,000 students annually in technical training, basic military training, initial skills training, advanced technical training and distance learning courses.
Training operations across Second Air Force range from intelligence to computer operations to space and missile operations and maintenance.
Courses are primarily taught at four resident training wings - the 81st Training Wing at Keesler AFB, Miss.; the 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow AFB, Texas, the 37th Training Wing at Lackland AFB and the 82nd Training Wing at Sheppard AFB, Texas; and the 381st Training Group located at Vandenberg AFB, Calif.; and a network of 92 field training units around the world. The 37th TRW also oversees the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Lackland AFB. In addition, Second Air Force oversees the Defense Language Institute's school at Lackland AFB.
Since 2006, the Second Air Force has overseen all Air Force Airmen throughout the Joint Expeditionary Tasking/Individual Augmentee training pipeline via the 602nd Training Group (Provisional) at Army training sites across the country and provides a 24-hour, 7-day operations center for pre- and post-deployment support.
In 2007, Second Air Force was given responsibility to provide curricula and advice to the Iraqi Air Force as it stands up its own technical training and branch specific basic training among others. This mission is known as "CAFTT" for Coalition Air Forces Technical Training.
General Patrick will replace Maj. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog at Keesler AFB. General Hertog will become Director, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Washington, D.C.
Brig. Gen. Theresa C. Carter, Director of Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., will assume command of the 502nd ABW/JBSA.
General Carter entered the Air Force in September 1985 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Purdue University. A career civil engineer, she has served in a variety of positions at the base, major command and Air Staff levels, and commanded a civil engineer squadron, mission support group and an air base wing.
Her contingency experience includes service in support of Operation Desert Shield, and command of a civil engineer unit in support of Operation Southern Watch.
A change of command ceremony will be conducted at 9 a.m. July 18 on MacArthur Parade Field at Fort Sam Houston.