AUGUST 23, 2026 – Members of Air Force Reserve Command welcomed their new leader during an assumption of command ceremony held at the Museum of Aviation Aug. 21.
Lt. Gen. Paul R. “Speedy” Fast took command in a ceremony presided over by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach. Fast succeeds Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, who retires in October after 37 years of service.
The new AFRC commander, who has served under Wilsbach’s command multiple times, was readily endorsed by the CSAF.
“I’ve seen Speedy’s brilliant leadership firsthand,” said Wilsbach. “He has the operational credibility, the strategic vision and the command experience to lead this enterprise.”
As the new Reserve commander, Fast will have full responsibility for nearly 70,000 Reserve Airmen and civilians at three numbered air forces, 34 flying wings, eight independent groups, a space wing, a cyber wing and an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance wing, and other subordinate units. As chief of Air Force Reserve, he will serve as principal adviser on Reserve matters to the secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff.
Wilsbach emphasized to the hundreds of Reserve command Airmen in the audience that “the challenge ahead of us is clear. We must continue to accelerate our modernization, integrate our forces, and break down any barriers to our collective readiness.”
He added, “Our adversaries are watching, and our unity of effort is our strongest deterrent signal.”
Following receipt of the guidon, Fast presented five task areas that will continue to be refined over the coming weeks:
- Task Area 1: Prepare for war, Ready Always!
- Task Area 2: Develop our Airmen
- Task Area 3: Preserve and protect our Reservists’ ability to serve
- Task Area 4: Fiercely manage and execute our resources
- Task Area 5: Curate a Reserve force of the future
“We’ll be the Reserve that the nation needs and leverages the unique set of attributes and capabilities that can only be found in the Air Force Reserve,” said Fast.
He added, “As challenging as these tasks will be in the coming years, there has never been a better time to get after them.”
Fast entered the Air Force in 1991, after receiving his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. While serving on active duty from 1992 to 2001, he accumulated more than 1,000 hours in the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System. In October 2001, Fast joined the Air Force Reserve.
Throughout his 25 years as a Reservist, he has supported exercises and operations across the globe, served as the interim 36th Wing commander at Andersen Air Force Base and interim deputy commander of Joint Region Marianas, Guam, and led the reconstitution of Andersen Air Force Base after Super Typhoon Mawar. Prior to assuming his current role, Fast served as the Fourth Air Force commander.
“Over the past year, as Commander of Fourth Air Force, he immersed himself in Mobility Air Force dynamics, executing the largest mobilization of Reserve forces in more than 30 years for Operation Epic Fury,” said Wilsbach. “Fast knows how to generate, present, and deploy combat power at scale.”
Fast ended by addressing his gratitude for the opportunity to continue to serve.
“To my teammates in Air Force Reserve Command, I am honored and I am humbled to lead with you now and in the coming years,” said Fast. “Thank you for accepting me as your new commander. I can’t wait to fly and fix and fight and win alongside every one of you. Fight’s on.”
By Lt. Col. Carrie Kessler
Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command