AFMC Command News

General Bedke assumes command of Air Force Research Laboratory

  • Published
  • By Mike Wallace
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The Air Force Research Laboratory welcomed a new commander Oct. 22 in a change-of-command ceremony at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Modern Flight Gallery.

Maj. Gen. Curtis M. Bedke assumed command of AFRL from the departing Maj. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds, who had been commander since January 2006.

General Bedke arrives after serving as commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.

General Bowlds will become the commander of the Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass., in November. He also will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.

General Bedke is a 1977 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a command pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours in 70 different aircraft. He has served as an experimental test pilot, commanding the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron at Edwards AFB. He also has commanded a B-52 Stratofortress operations group, a flying training wing, and a B-52 bomb wing.

His other assignments have included that of B-2 weapons systems acquisition manager at Headquarters Strategic Air Command, assistant deputy director of Politico-Military Affairs with the Joint Staff's J-5, vice commander of the 8th Air Force, inspector general of the Air Combat Command, and director of the National Security Operations Center, National Security Agency.

During the ceremony, General Bedke told those in attendance that "The Air Force gets my passion every day. I believe in our mission and the strategy to get there. There'll be no change for change's sake. In our business, there's a constant tug between doing too much and not doing enough. It takes ability to see the big picture, and our nation needs us to be forward thinkers. We are the ones with the ability to create the Air Force of 50 years from now."

As AFRL commander, General Bedke will be responsible for planning and executing the Air Force's $2 billion science and technology budget that includes basic research, applied research and advanced technology development.

He also will manage $1.7 billion in customer-funded research and development. AFRL has a headquarters staff, nine technical directorates and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.