Lt. Gen. Burton Field handed over the reins of US Forces Japan and 5th Air Force to Lt. Gen. Sam Angelella during a change of command ceremony at Yokota Air Base. Angelella served as the Joint Staff’s vice director for strategic plans and policy prior to assuming his new assignment on July 20. Field, who led 5th AF since October 2010, is moving on to become the Air Staff’s lead for operations, plans, and requirements issues. (Yokota photo caption by A1C John D. Partlow)
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.