U.S. Air Force Academy welcomes 30th Commandant of Cadets
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The U.S. Air Force Academy welcomed Brigadier Gen. Paul D. Moga as the 30th Commandant of Cadets Thursday, during the Change of Command ceremony at Stillman Field.
Moga assumed the title from Maj. Gen. Michele Edmondson, who served as Commandant since May 2019. Edmondson heads to Mississippi to take command of the 2nd Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base.
"You are already better, smarter, more innovative, more groundbreaking, more pioneering...than I was at this stage of the game," Moga said to cadets in attendance.
As a 1995 graduate of the Air Force Academy, Moga said he is looking forward to making a difference.
"I’m looking forward to taking the mission and the vision of the Chief of Space Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Superintendent and then partnering with my teammates."
Moga comes to the Air Force Academy from U.S. Northern Command Headquarters, where he served as Deputy Director of Operations.
"The ability as the Commandant to influence the next generation of Air and Space Force leaders is pretty amazing."
As a command pilot with more than 2,600 flying hours, including more than 250 in combat, Moga said this next step is the least he can do for the institution that gave him so much.
"I owe a personal and professional debt of gratitude to this institution, and over the next two years, I’m going to do my best to pay it back and pay it forward."
