Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas -- Brig. Gen. Gregory Kreuder assumed command of 19th Air Force from Maj. Gen. Clark Quinn during a change of command ceremony here, July 8, 2024. Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, commander of Air Education and Training Command, presided over the ceremony, passing the guidon from Quinn to Kreuder.
As 19th AF commander, Kreuder is responsible for more than 32,00 total force personnel and 1,530 aircraft assigned to 18 wings located across the United States. The command makes up more than 45% of the U.S. Air Force’s annual flying hour program and directs aircrew training courses, resulting in over 21,000 graduates annually.
Kreuder was commissioned through the Officer Training School in 1995 as a distinguished graduate. He previously served as the director of the F-35 Integration Office at Headquarters Air Force Arlington, Virginia. He commanded at the squadron and wing level and held staff assignments at Headquarters Air Force.
After the guidon was passed, Brig. Gen. Randall Cason, 19th Air Force mobility assistant to the commander, called members of the 19th AF staff to attention to render their first salute to the new commander.
"It is truly an honor to join the 19th Air Force team, and I am deeply humbled for the opportunity. The 19th has deep roots that date back to World War II and has evolved along with our Air Force in the decades since. Our Chief of Staff of the Air Force recently highlighted that we are now in a time of consequence. The advances in air power theory, innovation, and preparation that preceded seminal events in history often influenced their outcome, such as the Doolittle Raid or the fall of the Berlin Wall," said Kreuder. "As we are currently in an era of Great Power Competition, the mission of the wings throughout the 19th Air Force could not be more relevant. What we do now, how we innovate, and how we train our future warfighters during our time of consequence will significantly affect, if not outright decide, the outcome of future seminal events. I will do my utmost to support our wings in 19th Air Force and ensure the warfighters they graduate remain the world’s greatest combat-ready Airmen."
After the salute, the audience turned their attention to the T-38 Talon aircraft inside the hangar, where Brig. Gen. Kreuder’s name was emblazoned on the side of the jet.
Maj. Gen. Quinn reflected on his time as commander and working with the best staff in the Air Force.
“From my time as the Vance wing commander, leading 19th Air Force was a career goal that I aspired to but seemed out of reach. Although my time leading Team 19 wasn’t as long as I’d hoped, the time that I did have was both professionally and personally rewarding,” said Quinn. “Knowing that I was part of a team that trained thousands of Airmen is something I am proud of, and I hope that all of Team 19 shares that same pride in what they accomplish every day.”
Quinn was awarded the Legion of Merit, his second oak leaf cluster. He will depart 19th AF to become the next deputy commander of Air Education and Training Command.
“Every time I see an Air Force aircraft, I know that in most cases, every member of the crew got their start in 19th Air Force," said Quinn. “Team 19 excels at forging the Airmen our nation needs to Fly, Fight and Win… against any adversary, anytime and anywhere!”
The 19th Air Force trains undergraduate and graduate fixed and rotary wing pilots, remotely piloted aircraft pilots, combat systems officers, air battle managers, weapons directors, and graduate career enlisted aviators, which provides fully qualified aircrew personnel to the warfighting commands.