JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command, and Chief Master Sgt. David Wolfe, ACC command chief, visited the 633d Air Base Wing and 1st Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 11, 2024. Wilsbach and Wolfe were accompanied by their spouses, Cindy Wilsbach and Dr. Doniel Wolfe.
JBLE is the host base for ACC and serves as the home to the largest concentration of fifth-generation aircraft – the 1st FW F-22 Raptor fleet.
This immersion marked Wilsbach’s first opportunity to engage with personnel from the 633rd ABW and 1st FW since becoming COMACC, and reinforced the connection between JBLE’s mission, ACC, and national defense priorities. Speaking at his first all call as COMACC, Wilsbach underscored the significance of creating dilemmas for our adversaries.
“The dilemmas we create are ones that make our adversaries think, ‘today is not the day,’” said Wilsbach. “Because if we can do that every single day, that is called deterrence.”
Since assuming command, Wilsbach and Wolfe have continued to emphasize the critical importance of force readiness and modernization for air power in today’s Great Power Competition.
“It is important to keep the pressure on readiness, capability, and making improvements every day,” said Wolfe. “That’s really what the Air Force is about. From the second you join this institution, we have asked you to get better and better every day.”
During his visits to the Installation Deployment Readiness and Langley Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Wilsbach explored daily care for hundreds of Airmen, Soldiers, and their families, highlighting the fundamental importance of personal welfare in mission readiness.
Showcasing the ethos of "Mission First, People Always," a core slogan within ACC, the command team took the time to meet with service providers at the Connect-2-Care Center, where they gained in-depth knowledge about how JBLE strives to provide holistic care to Airmen and Soldiers every day.
“All ACC units, including JBLE, are adapting to how we develop Mission Ready Airmen and ensure readiness as we reoptimize for Great Power Competition,” said Col. Matthew Altman, JBLE installation commander. “It was great to show our ACC leadership how Crossbow Nation Airmen are meeting this challenge head on and hear General Wilsbach’s clear mandate to prepare for the future fight against a near-peer adversary.”
Wilsbach concluded his immersion by visiting the 1st FW, which is pivotal in advancing a new era of air dominance through their continuous adoption of the latest training, techniques and technology. This immersion offered Wilsbach and Wolfe an invaluable perspective on how units are embracing technological advancements and adjusting to evolving operational demands.