Colonel Boera relinquishes command of AOC

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Toni Kemper
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  Colonel Michael Boera relinquished command of the 613th Air and Space Operations Center, known as the Major Richard Bong AOC, in a ceremony today presided over by Lt. Gen. Loyd "Chip" S. Utterback, 13th Air Force commander. Colonel Boera will assume the rank of brigadier general Sept. 9. He now moves to Headquarters, U.S. Pacific Command to serve as the deputy director of operations. 

"I have been honored to serve as the commander of the Major Richard Bong AOC. Like our namesake, I believe this is the "Ace of Aces" of AOCs in our Air Force, and it's so because of our professional Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and civilians ... just superb in all they do. I do look forward to the challenges of my new job, but I will miss command of the pros of the AOC," said Colonel Boera. 

Colonel Boera, who assumed command on Nov. 13, 2006, is the 613th AOC's second commander since the organization was formally activated Oct. 6, 2006. During his tenure, the AOC hosted numerous delegations and distinguished visitors from throughout the Asia-Pacific region and actively integrated foreign military personnel into AOC operations. During Exercise Keen Edge, Japanese liaison officers worked side-by-side with their U.S. counterparts, as did Royal Australian Air Force personnel during Exercise Talisman Saber. His initiative to establish a reach-back AOC capability in the continental United States is becoming reality. 

As the 613th AOC commander, Colonel Boera oversaw one of the Air Force's five worldwide AN/USQ-163 FALCONER weapon systems. The AOC serves as the nerve center of air and space operations during any campaign and enables the commander of Air Force forces or the joint/combined force air component to exercise command and control of air, space, and information forces. He was responsible for supporting operations in the Asia-Pacific region outside the U.S. Forces Korea area of responsibility by developing strategy; conducting detailed planning, target development, weaponeering, and force allocation; producing an air tasking order; and assessing operational level functions. 

"We must remain Ready with the Right Effects at the Right Time all the time so we must continue to work towards a net-centric AOC capability in our Air Force," said the colonel.