Eighth Air Force commander visits Raider country

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brittany Kenney
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, Eighth Air Force and Joint Global Strike Operations Center commander, visited the 28th Bomb Wing April 17-19, where he toured various base facilities and engaged with Raiders from several units.

Accompanying Armagost was Chief Master Sgt. Ronnie Woods, Eighth Air Force command chief and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center senior enlisted leader, and Maj. Adam Carr, Aide-de-Camp to the commander.

Armagost stepped into the role as Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center commander within the last year and used this visit as an opportunity to become more familiar with Ellsworth and its bomber mission. Along with seeing key areas of the base, this visit was also a way to engage with Airmen and coin high performers in squadrons across the base.

“Capturing what our Airmen do and having it recognized by leadership is so important,” said Armagost. “They’re out there working hard, and it’s not going unnoticed.”

During their stay, the leadership team had the opportunity to tour the future home of the B-21 Raider and the progressive construction happening in preparation for its arrival. They also learned about the new Mobile Cold Spray System being used by the 28th Maintenance Group’s Additive Manufacturing Flight, designed to enhance and streamline preventative maintenance of Department of Defense aircraft components.

“It’s very rare for me to get to experience something I’ve never seen before,” said Woods after touring the facility housing the Cold Spray system. “I’ve been in the service for 25 years, and I can easily say that what you all are doing here is something special.”

Additionally, Armagost attended a Doolittle Raider event held at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum, signifying the 82nd anniversary of the Doolittle raid where 200 volunteers delivered the first long-range strike of World War II.

“This is a special time we get to share together,” said Armagost. “The relationship the squadrons have while working together enables them to really think about the paths they are heading down.”

To wrap up his visit, Armagost and his team met with a selection of junior enlisted Airmen for breakfast to answer questions and discuss current Air Force issues followed by a tour of the base’s Airman Leadership School and Innovation Center.

“I think our enlisted corps and our CGO corps are the best in the world,” said Woods. “They don’t need to be told what to do; we just prepare them to go out there and they make it happen.”