Asia-Pacific
Misawa gets new wing commander
Stars and Stripes
August 31, 2010
U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Rothstein, right, accepts command of the 35th Fighter Wing from Lt. Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., commander of U.S. Forces Japan and the 5th Air Force, during a ceremony at Misawa Air Base, Japan, on Tuesday. (Samuel Morse/Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Rothstein, right, accepts command of the 35th Fighter Wing from Lt. Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., commander of U.S. Forces Japan and the 5th Air Force, during a ceremony at Misawa Air Base, Japan, on Tuesday. (Samuel Morse/Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force)
Staff Sgt. Robert Randolph, of the 35th Air Maintenance Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan, peels off the backing of a sticker to display the name of the 35th Fighter Wing's newest commander stenciled on an F-16 fighter. Col. Michael Rothstein took command of the wing during the ceremony. (T.D. Flack/Stars and Stripes)
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — The 35th Fighter Wing’s newest leader took command Tuesday with the promise to focus on “mission, leadership and community.”
Col. Michael Rothstein’s assumption-of-command ceremony marked the end of a base leadership reshuffle this summer.
Rothstein assumed command from Col. RC Craig, the former vice commander who’s served in the top spot since former commander Col. David Stilwell left more than two months ago.
Craig, who is heading to a stateside assignment, was succeeded as vice commander by Col. Van A. Wimmer Jr.
Rothstein came to Misawa following a yearlong tour as the chief of Activities Synchronization with the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command in Kabul, Afghanistan.
From staff reports