Page 1 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt August 2016
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Train the world’s greatest F-35 and F-16 ghter pilots August 2016
Vol. 16, No. 21
INSIDE
STORIES
F-35 MRA course, 3
New chief at Luke, 4
Preventing Zika, 5
Load crew comp, 20
Airman Olympian, 27
FEATURE
Courtesy photo Airman 1st Class Pedro Mota
MWD RETIRES FROM DUTY Maj. Gen. James Hecker, 19th Air Force commander, hands the guidon to Brig. Gen. Brook Leonard, incoming 56th Fighter Wing
commander, July 13 at Luke Air Force Base.
See Page 10
Team Luke welcomes new commander
Continue to get Luke’s latest by Tech. Sgt. “Maria and I are extremely excited to be Force’s newest fth-generation ghter. He
news and information from LUTHER MITCHELL Jr. here today, to join your team and to serve ushered in pilot training for the F-35, saw
these sources: http://www.aero- you,” Leonard said. “This was our rst as- the F-35 program go from two to 39 F-35s,
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs signment 22 years ago after getting mar- and postured Luke for initial operational
technews.com/lukeafb/, ried, and it’s awesome to rejoin your team.” capability at Hill AFB, Utah.
http://www.luke.af.mil LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. —
Luke Air Force Base Airmen welcomed a The ceremony was of ciated by Maj. Gen. “I’m proud of you,” Pleus said. “As I take
and social media new wing commander July 13 when Brig. James Hecker, 19th Air Force commander, a last look across your faces I see friends,
Gen. Brook Leonard took command of the at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, who and that is what I will miss the most.
Luke56thFW @LukeAFB 56th Fighter Wing from outgoing com- narrated Pleus’ many accomplishments Thank you for all the opportunities you
mander Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus. at Luke. have given Jennifer and me, and I hope
Date of publication we cross paths soon.”
Leonard, a command pilot with more “They ew 33,000 sorties during the two
First Friday than 2,900 flying hours, including 576 years the Pleus family commanded here,” Pleus will go on to work as the direc-
combat hours, comes to Luke from the Pen- Hecker said. “They produced 800 ghter tor of the F-35 Integration Of ce at the
of the month tagon, where he served as senior military pilots and 600 air weapons controllers. Pentagon.
assistant to the secretary of the Air Force. You’ve had several challenges, but you
Submission deadline knocked every single one of them out of As the change of command concluded,
He entered the Air Force in May 1992 as the park.” Leonard reinforced his priorities and vi-
15th day of the month a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. sion for the future at Luke.
This is his second tour as a wing command- Hecker continued to praise Pleus for
prior to date of publication er, having previously commanded the 51st his leadership during his tenure at the “Our part as the 56th FW is to build the
Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base, Republic wing, and presented him with a Legion of future of airpower,” he said. “Our Air Force
Veterans of Korea, from 2013 through 2015. Merit award. is growing and our enemies continue to
pursue. We must also grow and while doing
Tell us Your Story The general is accompanied by his wife, Under Pleus’ command, the wing in- so pursue excellence. We build the future
Active-duty, Reserve, Retirees Maria, and their six children. tegrated the F-35 Lightning II, the Air of airpower, and it starts here.”
All military branches are included
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