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Carlson passes baton at Materiel Command

With the future of several aircraft programs awaiting decisions, the leadership at Air Force Materiel Command changes Friday in a ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Gen. Bruce Carlson retires after 37 years in uniform and is replaced by Gen.-select Donald Hoffman, who spent the past three years on the Air Staff as military deputy to the civilian assistant secretary for acquisition.

Materiel Command has two primary roles in the Air Force: oversight of keeping the existing fleet of aircraft flying and the development and acquisition of new aircraft and weapons.

The past two years have been rough times for Air Force acquisition. The Government Accountability Office faulted decisions to buy a new tanker and rescue helicopter because of Air Force mistakes evaluating the bids and dealing with competing contractors. New contracts are not expected until 2009, after the start of the Obama administration.

Carlson told reporters he expects to retire in the San Antonio area.

Hoffman, a 1974 graduate of the Air Force Academy, spent his flying career as an operational F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot and an instructor pilot in T-37 Tweets. He also earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.

Before moving to the Air Staff, Hoffman spent three years as Air Combat Command’s director of requirements.