JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS — Amidst family, friends, and guests, Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach relinquished command of Air Combat Command to Gen. Adrian Spain on Aug. 11.
Air Combat Command is headquartered at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. The group is considered a major command and is the leading provider of air combat forces to America’s warfighting commanders. The command oversees 155,000 active duty and civilians as part of its workforce.
According to the base, change of command ceremonies are a deeply rooted tradition in military history and culture, symbolizing the seamless transition of leadership and the continuity of mission excellence. These ceremonies honor the outgoing commander’s contributions while formally entrusting the incoming commander with the responsibility to lead. This tradition is particularly significant for major commands like Air Combat Command, where leadership transitions impact operational readiness and strategic priorities across the Air Force.
Wilsbach was commissioned in 1985 and earned his pilot wings in 1986. He has commanded a fighter squadron, operations group, two wings, two Numbered Air Forces and held various staff assignments, including Director of Operations, Combined Air Operations Center and Director of Operations, U.S. Central Command.
“We couldn’t have a finer officer and a team coming in to lead ACC. I have known him for decades and I have always, always admired him. He is a tremendous officer, a great fighter pilot, and I have full confidence that he’s going to take ACC to new heights,” Wilsbach said.
Spain was commissioned in 1994 through the ROTC program at Villanova University. He has spent the majority of his career in aviation and command assignments, accumulating more than 2,150 flight hours, deploying and serving in joint positions extensively. Prior to his current position, Lt. Gen. Spain was the Director of Training and Readiness, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
“Every ACC commander has always had a mandate to focus on readiness. So what will be different this time? I don’t know what’s different, but what I do know is that in this moment, it is not someone else’s challenge. This moment is ours and we will win this together. Will we solve our latest challenges? I intend to, but we need each other because help is not coming. At least not yet,” Spain said.
“The work the Chief and the Secretary are doing to focus on our foundational readiness is substantial and it’s the right thing and what we do between now and then will be decisive. We must prepare and adapt now to maximize the opportunity for increased resources in the future. I truly believe that ACC is the heart and soul of our Air Force. We have a lot to focus on but our primary focus must be on readiness,” Spain continued.
During the ceremony, there was a ceremonial passing of the flag from Wilsbach to Spain, signifying the change of command. Spain then received his first official salute as commander.
A full video of the Change of Command ceremony is available on the Air Combat Command Facebook page.