Alaskan Command getting new commander

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — A new commander is scheduled to take over the Alaskan Command, which oversees more than 22,000 service members in the state.

Lt. Gen. Russell J. Handy will take over Friday at a ceremony to be held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.

KTUU says Handy will replace Lt. Gen. Stephen L. Hoog, who is moving to the Pentagon to serve as the Air Force assistant vice chief of staff and director of air staff.

Handy’s last assignment was at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. In that assignment, Handy served as the Pacific Air Forces’ director of operations, plans, programs and requirements.