The Air Force's newest female four-star general took command of the service's weapons acquisition program Monday.

Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski will lead Air Force Materiael Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, charged with testing, acquisition, installation and maintenance of current and future weapons systems.

She takes over command from Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger — the Air Force's first female four-star — who is retiring after 35 years of service.

"The fact that we're changing command from one woman to another is interesting, and it's historic," Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said. "But it's not as cool to me as the fact that we're changing from one phenomenal leader to another."

Pawlikowski has spent much of her career dealing with research and acquisitions, including serving as the director of the Airborne Laser System Program Office, commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, and commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center.

Her previous posting was as the military deputy for William LaPlante, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition at the Pentagon.

"I have seen what the AFMC men and women can do, and I'm excited about leading and working with you all to make this the most agile Air Force we've ever seen," Pawlikowski said at her swearing-in ceremony.

She takes command of an office with 80,000 people and a $60 billion budget, according to Defense Department records.

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