Kadena's 18th Wing commander looks back on tour

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nestor Cruz
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
With a focus on winning, teamwork, leadership, and vision, the 18th Wing commander looked back at his 16 months in command. 

Brig. Gen. Harold "Punch" Moulton recently reflected on the growth of Kadena as he prepared for his new assignment. 

"Team Kadena has done a marvelous job living up to our goals of winning through teamwork, leadership, vision," General Moulton said. "I have seen teamwork happen all over the place: with our partner services, within groups and squadrons, all the way down to the flight level. Individual leaders have stepped up as well. 

"Since we've been here, we've challenged Airmen as they arrive to Kadena to ask what they want their legacy to be, to place themselves three years down the road and ask 'what does my legacy looks like'," the general added. "If you put together vision, teamwork and leadership, you get the fourth element...winning. To paraphrase Aristotle, 'Excellence is not an act, but a habit.' We are what we repeatedly do, and that's winners." 

General Moulton, who took command in January 2006, also noted the importance placed by Team Kadena on caring for family members. 

"I'm very proud of the fact we've put some teeth into our evacuation procedures and I'm confident we've made great strides in that arena," the general said. "Knowing that this region has earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunami, it was imperative for me to make sure we take care of our families." 

Although the general is moving on to another Pacific Air Forces location, he emphasized Kadena's importance in the Pacific region as well as the importance of operating in a joint environment. 

"PACAF is a vast, immense region," he said. "Because of this vastness, we can only fight as a joint team, which is a key for us. Additionally, this is a region where U.S. relationships are bilateral. We share a common set of values with Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Australia which makes it easy for us to be allies. We have many more friends in the region where we need to continue our engagement. 

"The joint team is part of life in Okinawa. On a daily basis, we work with the Marines and the 1-1 ADA Battalion. We've spent a lot of time training with our Navy brethren," he added. "Far too many people believe only the Marines and the Army are the ones fighting the Global War on Terror and that's so frightfully wrong. Your Air Force today is very active in the Global War on Terror. Your Air Force is flying missions daily and flying thousands of tons of cargo in support of various missions. Over 600 Airmen from Kadena have been in Iraq and Afghanistan for months." 

As General Moulton's second tour of Kadena draws to a close, he and his wife, Kathleen, are leaving behind the people who made the past year and a half great. 

"Kathleen and I loved it here and it's certainly been a blessing for both of us to be here a second time," General Moulton said. "People are what make an assignment great. We've made so many friends here: fellow Airmen and families, members from the other services, and our Okinawan neighbors. I've had great relationships with the local city mayors and I'm exceptionally pleased to see our new friends in the Okinawa Prefecture, including the Governor. I honestly believe we as a nation are best friends with Japan and we as an Air Force are best friends with Japan Self Defense Forces. 

"I'd like to say thanks to every member of Team Kadena for their service," the general said. "There are people that others call heroes, such as professional athletes and musicians. But the real heroes are the ones willing to risk their lives in defense of democracy, equality and liberty. We came into a great wing and we're leaving an even better wing. The 18th Wing is like a rocket: every second, it's getting higher and better...there is no limit to how much this wing can achieve."

General Moulton will move on to Osan Air Base, Korea where he will fill the roles of 7th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Korea vice commander, and Air Component Command chief of staff. The general will be succeeded by Brig. Gen. Brett Williams, who previously served as Air Combat Command Inspector General at Langley Air Force Base, Va.