3rd AF leaders salute Spangdahlem

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Preston Cherry
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The commander and command chief of the 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force completed their first tour of the 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Dec. 14, 2016.

Lt. Gen. Richard Clark and Chief Master Sgt. Phillip Easton spoke to nearly 1,000 wing Airmen at Hangar One about their overall impression of the base’s performance and their mission focus since assuming their respective leadership roles earlier this year.

The leaders spoke about their three main priorities: mission, Airmen and making time for family.

“Consider those three priorities: our mission and executing it with excellence; our Airmen and inspiring them to a higher calling; and our family – the glue that binds us and the people we are going to be with for the rest of our lives,” Clark said. “We just have to ensure we are finding that right balance. They all work together in concert to allow us to do the things we want to do and be the people we want to be.”

During the all call, he urged Airmen to embrace challenges as members within the numbered air force’s mission of planning, deploying, sustaining and redeploying that directly support combatant commanders during contingency and wartime operations.   

“Say it. Do it. Own it,” he said. “Are you willing to step up, own that commitment and continue to drive to that purpose?”

Before completing the all call, both Clark and Easton thanked Airmen for what they do.

“You have committed to something higher and bigger than yourself,” Clark said. “You all are doing amazing things every day.”

"We saw so much innovation, so much energy and so much excitement about the mission here at the 52nd FW," Easton said. "We're just so proud of you all."