New commander takes reigns of fighter wing

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristopher Levasseur
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Brig. Gen. John W. Hesterman III took command of the 48th Fighter Wing from Brig. Gen. Robert P. Steel June 5 on RAF Lakenheath's alpha ramp

Lt. Gen. Robert D. Bishop Jr., 3rd Air Force commander was the presiding officer for the event.

Prior to taking command of the Liberty Wing, General Hesterman served as the deputy director of the Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force in Washington, D.C.

"I know how important the mission you do here is. I know how very well you do it. I am eager to talk to you in the coming weeks. I want you to know how humbled, honored and very proud I am to be your commander," said General Hesterman. "Men and woman of the Liberty Wing it would be difficult to overstate how happy the Hesterman clan is to be back here with you."

General Hesterman was stationed at RAF Lakenheath from January 1996 to May 1998 and held the positions of assistant operations officer and operations officer of the 492nd Fighter Squadron, he later became the commander of the 494th Fighter Squadron.

As members of the wing welcomed the new commander, it also bid a solemn farewell to its commander of two years. General Steel will go on to be the commandant of the National War College.

During General Steel's stay at RAF Lakenheath, the Liberty Wing achieved numerous accomplishments such as being the first fighter wing to integrate the Suite 5 software upgrades. This upgrade allowed the Liberty team to be the first to use the small diameter bomb in a combat situation. In addition, during his tenure the wing flew over 25,000 sorties with more than 48,000 flying hours. The Liberty Wing answered the call for 81 air craft taskings while deploying more than 4,500 Airmen to more than 30 countries.

"The accomplishments of the 48th Fighter Wing on behalf of national defense, are nothing short of inspiring," said General Hesterman.

As the ceremony came to an end, Airmen made their way to Gate 1 to give General Steel one last salute before he left RAF Lakenheath.