Air Force Reserve appoints new commander

The Air Force Reserve Command welcomed a new leader Aug. 21 as Lt. Gen. Paul R. “Speedy” Fast assumed command during a ceremony at the Museum of Aviation, succeeding Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, who retires in October after 37 years of service. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach presided over the event.

“I’ve seen Speedy’s brilliant leadership firsthand,” said Wilsbach. “He has the operational credibility, the strategic vision and the command experience to lead this enterprise.”

Fast, who has served under Wilsbach’s command multiple times, takes charge of a force of nearly 70,000 Reserve Airmen and civilians across three numbered air forces, 34 flying wings, eight independent groups, a space wing, a cyber wing and an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance wing, among other subordinate units. As chief of Air Force Reserve, he will also advise the secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff on Reserve matters.

Wilsbach emphasized to the hundreds of Reserve command Airmen in the audience that “the challenge ahead of us is clear. We must continue to accelerate our modernization, integrate our forces, and break down any barriers to our collective readiness.” He added, “Our adversaries are watching, and our unity of effort is our strongest deterrent signal.”

After receiving the guidon, Fast outlined five initial task areas he plans to refine in the weeks ahead:
– Task Area 1: Prepare for war, Ready Always!
– Task Area 2: Develop our Airmen
– Task Area 3: Preserve and protect our Reservists’ ability to serve
– Task Area 4: Fiercely manage and execute our resources
– Task Area 5: Curate a Reserve force of the future

“We’ll be the Reserve that the nation needs and leverages the unique set of attributes and capabilities that can only be found in the Air Force Reserve,” said Fast. He added, “As challenging as these tasks will be in the coming years, there has never been a better time to get after them.”

Fast entered the Air Force in 1991 through Air Force ROTC at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He logged more than 1,000 hours in the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System while on active duty from 1992 to 2001, then joined the Air Force Reserve that October. Over 25 years as a Reservist, he has supported exercises and operations worldwide, served as interim 36th Wing commander at Andersen Air Force Base and interim deputy commander of Joint Region Marianas in Guam, and led the reconstitution of Andersen AFB after Super Typhoon Mawar. He most recently commanded Fourth Air Force.

“Over the past year, as Commander of Fourth Air Force, he immersed himself in Mobility Air Force dynamics, executing the largest mobilization of Reserve forces in more than 30 years for Operation Epic Fury,” said Wilsbach. “Fast knows how to generate, present, and deploy combat power at scale.”

Closing the ceremony, Fast thanked Reserve Airmen for their trust and pledged to lead alongside them. “To my teammates in Air Force Reserve Command, I am honored and I am humbled to lead with you now and in the coming years,” said Fast. “Thank you for accepting me as your new commander. I can’t wait to fly and fix and fight and win alongside every one of you. Fight’s on.”