General Carlson emcees Air Armament Center ceremony Published Dec. 30, 2005 By John Norgren Air Armament Center Public Affairs EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFMCNS) -- Although major challenges lie ahead, the Air Armament Center’s new commander believes Team Eglin and its community partners can turn these challenges into winning opportunities. Maj. Gen. Jeffrey R. Riemer took over as Program Executive Officer for Weapons and assumed command of the AAC from Maj. Gen. Robert W. Chedister in a formal ceremony Dec. 13 in Hangar 103. Gen. Bruce Carlson, Air Force Materiel Command commander, presided over the ceremony. By 2012, Eglin will gain four major joint service missions and approximately 3,400 new active duty, civil service and contract personnel. These new missions include standing up the Joint Strike Fighter Initial Training Program and supporting a new Army mission — the 7th Special Forces Group. General Riemer comes to Eglin from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he served as AFMC’s director of operations, so he’s well aware of Team Eglin’s successes. “I’ve witnessed your superior accomplishments from afar and I’m looking forward to sharing in your successes in the future,” General Riemer said. “We’re tremendously excited to be members of your team.” Gereral Carlson said of the center’s new commander, “General Riemer’s strategic perspective, extensive test and engineering experience and leadership qualities make him the right person to take command of the Air Armament Center,” General Carlson said. General Riemer is a command and test pilot. He’s logged more than 3,000 flight hours in more than 40 different aircraft. During his career, he’s served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as a military staff assistant for developmental testing of aircraft and air-to-air missiles. Later assignments include MC-130H Combat Talon program manager, Air-to-Air Joint System Program Office program director of special programs, program director of the F-16 system program office and Command and Control Programs executive officer, and Combat Support Systems. He has commanded the 4953rd Test Squadron and the Air Force Security Assistance Center. General Chedister said serving as AAC’s commander exceeded his expectations. “It was the capstone of my Air Force career. It was far better than my wildest dreams.” General Chedister officially retires Feb. 1, 2006.