Page 1 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, July 6 2018
P. 1
We build the future of airpower July 2018
Vol. 18, No. 7
INSIDE Canterbury takes command of 56th FW
StorIES by Airman 1st Class
ï® New GTCC, 3 ZOIE RIDER
ï® Heat stress, 5
ï® Paralympics, 6 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ï® Dining facility, 8
ï® Flightline kitchen, 10 Luke Air Force
Base welcomed
FEAtUrE its new wing com-
mander June 20,
as Brig. Gen. Todd
Canterbury as-
sumed command
of the 56th Fighter
Wing from Brig.
Gen. Brook Leon-
Brig. Gen. Todd Canterbury ard.
56th Fighter Wing C a n t e r b u r y, a
commander
command pilot with
more than 4,100 flying hours, including
650 combat hours, comes to Luke from the
Pentagon, where he served as director of
the F-35 integration office.
Canterbury entered the Air Force in May
1993 as a graduate of Arizona State Uni-
versity ROTC. This will be his second tour
as a wing commander, having previously
commanded the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin
AFB, Florida, from 2013 through 2015.
“From a sixth grader at Luke Elementary,
to a lifeguard at the base pool, and an F-16
student at the Mighty Ducks, this is my
Tech. Sgt. Luther Mitchell home, this is personal to me,†Canterbury
said. “This is my chance to give back to the
DAY OF HOPE community that has given so much to my
See Page 12
family.â€
The ceremony was officiated by Maj. Gen.
Patrick Doherty, commander of 19th Air Senior Airman Ridge Shan
Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph,
Texas, who shared both Leonard’s many Maj. Gen. Patrick Doherty, left, 19th Air Force commander, hands the guidon to Brig.
accomplishments, and Canterbury’s spe- Gen. Todd Canterbury June 20 during the 56th Fighter Wing change of command
cial heritage at Luke. Canterbury’s father, ceremony at Luke Air Force Base. Canterbury assumed command from Brig. Gen.
Continue to get Luke’s latest retired Maj. Gen. Henry Canterbury, was Brook Leonard, who will move on to be become the deputy commanding general of
news and information from the Air Combined Joint Forces Component Command in Iraq.
these sources: http://www.
aerotechnews.com/lukeafb/ the commander of Tactical Air Command’s other wing that does that. There’s no other person on your left, wire yourselves paral-
832nd Air Division at Luke from 1982 to wing that produces 181 F-16 pilots in one lel as a team and make bold decisions and
http://www.luke.af.mil 1984. year or 74 F-35 pilots in one year. That’s change the Air Force from the 56th Fighter
and social media “The Air Force is very excited about an incredible work load that your United Wing.â€
the trusted, respected leadership that the States Air Force is relying on and you guys
Canterbury family brings to Luke Air Force do it like clockwork.†Leonard will go on to serve as the deputy
Base and the 56th Fighter Wing,†Doherty commanding general of the Air Combined
Luke56thFW @LukeAFB said. “I think it’s probably the first time that Under Leonard’s command, the wing de- Joint Forces Component Command in Iraq.
veloped integrated maintainer teams, put a
Date of publication we had a father be the Luke commander focus on leader development, and dedicated As the change of command concluded,
and now the son is taking over as the Luke time and support to the creation of the Hu- Canterbury reinforced his priorities and
First Friday commander. I’m not so sure that’s happened man Performance Team. In 2017, the 56th vision for the future at Luke.
in the history of the Air Force before, so it’s Fighter Wing won the Air Education and
of the month pretty special for the Canterbury family Training Command Weapons Excellence “While the enemies have changed, the ex-
today.†Award and Outstanding Unit Award, fol- traordinary dedication, courage and skill of
Submission deadline Doherty praised Leonard for his leader- lowed by the Gen. Larry O. Spencer Inno- the men and women we call Thunderbolts,
ship during his tenure as commander, and vation Award and Gen. Mark A. Welsh III has remained constant,†Canterbury said.
15th day of the month presented him with a Legion of Merit. One Air Force Award in 2018. “While we honor their service, we cannot
rest on their laurels. Now is our time to per-
prior to date of publication “I’d like to say thank you to all the Thun- fect our trade craft as professional warriors
derbolts,†Leonard said. “It was an honor to and instructors, to provide the combat Air
Veterans “This is an incredible animal of a pro- serve you all. Just remember, care for the Force the most capable and lethal fighter
duction engine,†Doherty said. “Twenty- pilots.â€
Tell us Your Story six thousand sorties in 2017. Thirty-four
Active-duty, Reserve, Retirees thousand flying hours in 2017. There’s no
All military branches are included
Go to www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
Email name, phone number and a or use your smartphone to connect to our website!
brief description of your service to
56fwpathunderbolt@us.af.mil
