455th AEW commander promoted to general

Photo By Senior Airman Felicia Juenke | Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Vannorsdall, 455th Expeditionary Wing command chief unfurls the general officer flag of Brig. Gen. Steven L. Kwast, 455th AEW commander with the assistance of Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel, CJTF-82, command sergeant major. A general officer flag is a time-honored tradition in the military service.  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

07.31.2009

Story by Tech. Sgt. John Jung 

455th Air Expeditionary Wing   

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Col. Steven L. Kwast, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, was promoted to brigadier general in an early morning ceremony at the Combined Joint Task Force Headquarters here.

Presiding over the promotion ceremony was Army Maj. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commander of CJTF-82, which partners with the 455th AEW and the wing's Airmen.

Sharing a common heritage in the Army Air Corps, the Air Force and Army are interconnected. In brief remarks, Scaparrotti explained how this promotion ceremony was unique and special for him because of an Air Force connection.

"I was honored when the Air Force asked me to promote Colonel Kwast. When I was promoted to brigadier general, I was promoted by an Air Force officer, Gen. Norton Schwartz, now Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and I thought this was a good way to return the favor," said Scaparrotti.

After the formal pinning of his new rank and the traditional unfurling of his general officer's flag, Kwast took the podium and thanked the assembled crowd for their time and service to their country.

Kwast spoke about family, patriotism, the calling of those who serve their country and teamwork.

"This is a time for you to think about your family as a foundation of your ability to serve this country and great cause. Every generation needs a cadre of great American patriots like you who are willing to leave everything behind and come forward to put your life on the line for causes much greater than your individual self interests," said Kwast.

"There is no higher calling than what we do. Today's ceremony is made possible by men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice and died for their country. There is no greater tribute to them than for us to wear this uniform and get after the fight," he continued.

"We're here to work together as a team to find a way to win and there is no better way to punctuate and close this ceremony than by getting after it and getting back to work," the general concluded.

Kwast is the commander, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The 455th AEW employs mobility, electronic attack, close air support, and aeromedical evacuation assets which support the International Security Assistance Force and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Kwast was commissioned from the United States Air Force Academy in 1986, and has more than 3,000 flying hours including over 350 combat hours during Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom.

• Date Taken: 07.31.2009
• Date Posted: 08.03.2009 09:36
• Story ID: 37083
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF