MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Col. Matthew O. Berry took command of Air Command and Staff College from Col. Lee G. Gentile during a change of command ceremony June 21, 2022, on Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
Air University Commander and President Lt. Gen. James B. Hecker presided over the ceremony.
Prior to taking command, Berry served as the Special Warfare Training Wing vice commander at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, since July 2020. Berry is a command evaluator pilot and weapons officer with over 1,850 flight hours and 400 combat hours.
"I am thrilled to be here at ACSC, especially during the 75th anniversary of the Air Force,” Berry said. “Lee's team has done a fantastic job actioning [Air Force Chief of Staff] Gen. [CQ] Brown, Jr.'s call for change and responding to national defense and Department of the Air Force priorities. Their efforts to transform the ACSC program will ensure we deliver the education our forces need to continue dominance of Air and Space domains into the future."
Hecker thanked Lee for his sage leadership and commended him for his profound impact on ACSC, with an emphasis on his implementation of agile curriculum.
“On behalf of the students, [my wife] and I, as well as the staff and faculty of ACSC, best wishes, and thank you for everything,” said Hecker.
Gentile is retiring from the Air Force after 25 years of service.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve you as your commander,” Gentile said. “I count myself lucky to have stood and walked these halls with you.”
Air Command and Staff College is the world’s premier in-residence and distance-learning professional military education college for mid-career officers and civilians, which focuses on the education and development of air-minded joint leaders. Each year, Air Command and Staff College graduates approximately 500 resident and over 9,000 non-resident students from all U.S. military services, federal agencies and 65 partner nations.