SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFPN) –
Gen. Duncan J. McNabb assumed command of U.S. Transportation Command here in a ceremony Sept. 5.
Secretary of Defense Dr. Robert M. Gates presided at the ceremony in which General McNabb became the ninth USTRANSCOM commander.
Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the first to speak at the ceremony and lauded the efforts of U.S. Transportation Command.
"Combat operations cannot succeed without secure, mature lines of logistics. And, if you ask any TRANSCOM professional, they'll tell you that they'll make it work, they get it, they live it every single day," the admiral said.
He continued to say that missions during the last six years were accomplished only "because of the incredible support of this command and so many tens of thousands of people that make these operations possible."
Secretary Gates pointed out General McNabb's transportation and mobility background made him a natural choice to be the ninth commander of USTRANSCOM.
"With all these moving parts, and with the critical importance of every single (USTRANSCOM) mission, there is little doubt that this command requires a special kind of leader -- one who can maintain a focus on details within the context of massive and myriad operations. General McNabb is the right person for this job."
Upon assuming command, General McNabb said he was pleased to be able to rekindle relationships with the many friends and community leaders he met during his previous tour here as the former commander of Air Mobility Command, also headquartered at Scott AFB.
"You all know how happy Linda and I are to be back and again privileged to be a part of this great community," General McNabb said.
In his remarks, the general emphasized the important role USTRANSCOM continues to play around the world, from emerging requirements in the Republic of Georgia, ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and support to FEMA and U.S. Northern Command for Hurricane Gustav and preparations for Hurricanes Hanna and Ike.
"It is clear our nation depends on us," General McNabb said. "Born in war, grown to maturity in times of peace, and again sustaining our warfighters in war, the men and women of TRANSCOM will ensure that the promises made to our men and women in uniform, to the people of America, will always be promises kept."
His last assignment was as vice chief of staff of the Air Force at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, he commanded AMC, one of the three service commands comprising USTRANSCOM. The others are the Army's Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, also headquartered at Scott AFB, and the Navy's Military Sealift Command, with headquarters at the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.
USTRANSCOM is one of the nine U.S. military combatant commands. It provides air, land and sea transportation for the Department of Defense and is supported by Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard personnel. As the new commander of USTRANSCOM, General McNabb is now the Department of Defense distribution process owner, managing the development of efficient and effective distribution solutions to enhance global strategic support to customers.
Former USTRANSCOM Commander Gen. Norton A. Schwartz was recently appointed chief of staff of the Air Force.