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General Bishop reflects on Third Air Force Tenure

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Hollis Dawson
  • 3rd Air Force Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  He is one of the Air Force's most experienced operators. He has deployed numerous times through a variety of operations ranging from Desert Storm to Shining Hope. As an ops group commander, he led his group in support of more than seven named contingencies. He has responded to numerous humanitarian calls for action, including the Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines and multiple typhoon, hurricane, and famine relief operations.

Yet, despite those experiences over the past 34 years, Lt. Gen. Rod Bishop sees his role as the commander of 3rd Air Force as the ideal culmination to his active duty career.

"I can't think a better job to end my Air Force career," said General Bishop. "Being in an operationally oriented command and doing our nation's bidding and working with the superb people that make up 3rd Air Force is the perfect ending to my years of service."

General Bishop entered the Air Force in June 1974 after graduating from the Air Force Academy. In the following years, he has commanded an operations support squadron, a C-141 Starlifter flying squadron, a C-141 and C-17 Globemaster operations group and airlift wing. He has also served as the Deputy Commander of Headquarters U.S. Southern Command; the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations at Headquarters U.S. Air Force; Vice Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe; and as Air Commander, Europe.

During his tenure as the 3rd AF commander, the unit has been extremely successful and has received accolades from as high as President George W. Bush. Gen Bishop credits the record of success to the superior, operationally focused people who make up 3 AF--"from the HQ to the wings" and to the keen foresight of some of the Air Force's leaders over the years.

"We owe much gratitude to the leaders who had the vision of having an operationally focused headquarters," General Bishop said. "Thankfully those leaders saw the need to have an organization focused on the needs of the combatant commander--not just Air Force, MAJCOM or wing-related issues."

The general said 3rd AF being the first numbered Air Force to be certified as a joint task force and "our outstanding record of providing air and space capabilities to all ten combatant commanders" are the things he's most proud of. "Also," he added, "I think we have done a very good job of taking care of our people."

"The fact that we have been certified and called upon to lead a Joint Task Force, and did it exceedingly well, is something we all can be very proud of," General Bishop stated. He urged the 3rd AF team to keep building upon what has been started.

"Keep pressing forward with clarifying the roles and mission between the numbered Air Force and the major command, keep pressing on operationalizing the Air and Operations Center, and keep pressing on trying to get a standardized Air Force-wide approach to manning and training an Air Force Forces staff," he said.

Reflecting back, the general said waking up every morning going to a job he didn't consider to be a job is what he will miss most about the Air Force. And, having good people who understand the operational level of war is what ties it all together.

"Being a lifelong operator, I love the instantaneous gratification we get when an operation is successful. But, I'm pleased to say every one of the great men and women of 3rd Air Force has been the key to that success," General Bishop said.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my opportunity to roll up my sleeves and work beside America's best sons and daughters ... It's an experience I will always cherish."