CoC, 5AF/CC

　　Command authority of US.Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force was accomplished from Lieutenant General Bruce A.Wight to Lieutenant General Edward A Rice Jr. on 25 Feb. 2008. 　Change of Command ceremony was carried out at Yokota Air Base, Admiral Timothy J. Keating (Commander, United States Pacific Command) and General Carrol H.Chandler (Commander, Pacific Air Forces) were present to officiate at ceremony.　After speeches by Adm.Keating and Gen.Chandler, Lt.Gen.Wright sum up his 3 yeas assignment in Japan and said "you and all those you represent have accomplished much in the past three years.　You have substantially enhanced the interoperability of our two militaries, and you are very successfully updating the roles, missions, and capabilities of both militaries in the way we plan, train and execute as increasingly-capable, mutually supportive, operational partners".　He expressed appreciation to his subordinate, families and peoples of Self Defense Forces who had showed him friendship during 9 years of 3 times assignment in Japan.　Then Lt.Gen.Wright returned command flag and Lt.Gen.Rice received it.　Gen.Rice stood for speech, he praise Gen.Wright achievement at first and pointed "US-Japan alliance is important as now for not only Japan and United States but also Asia and Pacific region.　There is no challenging mission like this"　Gen.Rice is 1978 distinguished graduate of U.S. Air Force Academy and bomber pilot.　He had flown B-1B, B-52G/H, E-3,B-2, KC-135 etc.. His flight hours is more than 3,800 hours.　In early Operation Enduring Freedom, he commanded bomber units. 　General's former assignment was vice commander of Pacific Air Force, it's first time for him to be on duty in Japan.　As of his arriving post day, he is promoted to grade of Lieutenant General.　
　　Before change of command ceremony, Gen.Chandler held retirement ceremony for Gen.Wright because he would be retired from US Air Force with this assignment last.　At this ceremony, Gen.Wright gave his thanks with Japanese that he could interchange with SDFs' members heartily.　And his second daughter Jana, 1st lieutenant / F-15 pilot, had speech on praising her father.
　　Admiral.Saitoh(Chief of Staff, Joint Staff), General Tamogami (Chief of Staff, JASDF), many general officers and staffs from SDFs, Takegochi JAAGA president and 10 officers participated to both ceremonies.　(Reported by secretariat Kensai Takahashi)

　