JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- The 62d Airlift Wing hosted U.S. Air Force Gen. John Lamontagne, Air Mobility Command commander May 19-22. Lamontagne's visit emphasized the 62d AW's critical role in global airpower projection while allowing him to evaluate wing initiatives, discuss Agile Combat Employment, and recognize exceptional Airmen.
“The team here has supported countless missions including humanitarian air drops in Gaza and deployments to Ramstein and Kuwait.” said Lamontagne.
The visit highlighted the 62d AW's integration of Agile Combat Employment principles into its operations, particularly through Joint Force Entry Exercises, showcasing this proactive and reactive scheme designed to enhance survivability and combat power in dynamic environments. Lamontagne toured all of Team McChord including the 627th Air Base Group, and 446th Reserve Wing and received briefings on a range of missions, including Operation Deep Freeze, Expeditionary Air Base Deployments, Swift Response, and Operation Kenny’s Return, providing a broader context for the wing’s capabilities.
"We were trying to strengthen our deterrence and our posture as an alliance in Europe and this team has done that in spades, bringing eight airplanes over there doing a joint forcible entry exercise across five different countries simultaneously,” Lamontagne stated.
Lamontagne emphasized the impact that Airmen and noncommissioned officers have on AMC’s and the Air Force’s critical missions throughout the globe.
Looking ahead, the 62d AW remains committed to providing agile and responsive airlift capabilities to support the nation's defense objectives. The 62d AW is a vital component of Air Mobility Command and plays a critical role in ensuring the United States' ability to project airpower globally. Lamontagne's visit reinforced the importance of readiness, ACE, and innovation as key priorities for the wing moving forward.