Nellis base welcomes 57th Wing’s first female commander

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The Associated Press

U.S. Air Force Col. Jeannie Leavitt speaks to the crowd during the wing change of command ceremony on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., June 1, 2012. Leavitt is the first female to command an Air Force fighter wing. Since becoming the first mission-qualified female fighter pilot, she has logged more than 2,500 hours in the F-15E Strike Eagle. Leavitt is the 4th Fighter Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Colette Graham/Released)

LAS VEGAS — Nellis Air Force Base in southern Nevada has welcomed the first woman to take control of the 57th Wing.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Brig. Gen. Jeannie M. Leavitt officially took command in a ceremony Friday, replacing Brig. Gen. Christopher Short.

Leavitt became the Air Force’s first female fighter pilot in 1993 and she piloted in combat over Afghanistan and Iraq. Prior to taking command of the 57th she served as Secretary of Defense Ash Carter’s principal military assistant at the Pentagon.

Short will become a senior defense official and attache to the United Kingdom for the Defense Intelligence Agency at the U.S. Embassy in London.

The 57th is the Air Force’s largest composite wing, which manages all flying operations at Nellis.

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