Brig. Gen. Busch assumes command of Ogden Air Logistics Center

  • Published
  • By Lee Anne Hensley
  • Hilltop Times staff
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Maj. Gen. Kathleen D. Close relinquished command of the Ogden Air Logistics Center to Brig. Gen. Andrew E. Busch during a ceremony today at Hangar 204.
In his opening remarks, Gen. Donald Hoffman, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, noted the significance of the change of command ceremony occurring two days before the 4th of July.

"As we look back 223 years to when this nation started its journey of independence and individual freedoms, it's good that we can relate chronologically to that event," the general said. Hoffman also thanked the Utah state and local dignitaries, including Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, for their attendance at the event and for their ongoing community support to Hill Air Force Base.

Prior to relieving Close of her command of the OO-ALC, Hoffman highlighted the accomplishments Close experienced in her tenure.

"Her focus on the nuclear enterprise ensured that the most important job of our defense department and the protection of our country and the nuclear deterrent of our country were properly sustained. She has jumped into the increasingly difficult task of geriatric sustainment of aircraft ... Through the hard work of this depot and the leadership of General Close, we are fully ready to do the mission that we have today," he said.

General Close is now the director of Logistics and Sustainment at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Hoffman will command both Close and Busch, and he expressed his confidence in Close's next-in-command. "We have another great commander coming in behind General Close. Andy Busch has the perfect set of experiences," he said.

Busch comes to Hill Air Force Base from Richmond, Va., where he was the commander of the Defense Supply Center Richmond. Busch also has experience in aircraft maintenance at the acquisition level and has been assigned to all three Air Force Air Logistics Centers, including a previous assignment to the OO-ALC from 1998 until 2000. At that time, Busch served as the center's deputy director for Logistics Management and director for Workload Transfer. Now as commander, Busch will be responsible for the center's four wings: the 75th Air Base Wing, 309th Maintenance Wing, 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing and the 84th Combat Sustainment Wing, which is currently commanded by the 508th ASW.

"You have taken over the best ALC and AFMC - the workforce is second-to-none, and your leadership team is ready to support you," Close said to Busch at the ceremony. "You bring an incredible wealth of experience to the job and I know you will take this center to the next level."

Busch says he plans to do just that by continuing the reinvigoration of the nuclear enterprise that Close started and to create a "more efficient and effective Air Logistics Center here within the next couple of years."

To achieve that goal, Busch says he will enlist the support of both military and civilian industries.

"It is my intent, working with the fine leaders out here on the floor, is to ensure that we form partnerships within the Air Force, across the Department of Defense and with industry," Busch elaborated.

He also added that his third priority would be to reach out to both the civilian and military Airmen and ensure they get needed help in both their professional and personal lives.

These priorities are consistent with those of Air Force leadership, he said.
Before the conclusion of the ceremony, Busch expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for his new position.

"To my boss, I will tell you this: I have been hoping for a job like this for a very long time," Busch told Hoffman.