Maj. Gen. Richard Comer (USAF-Ret) spent 32 years on active duty, 17 of which were in Special Operations. He flew Air Force helicopters, seeing combat in Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, the Balkans, and in Operation Just Cause. He commanded at squadron, group, and wing level in Air Force Special Ops and also had a tour as the deputy commander of JSOC. He was the vice commander of AFSOC for more than two years, which included the initial Afghan campaign after 9/11. He served as the first J5, Director of Policy and Planning, for U.S. NORTHCOM when it was created a year later, and finished his career as the Director of the Coalition Coordination Center at CENTCOM.

Operation Eager Anvil: Pave Low Leaders

By Maj. Gen. Richard Comer (USAF-Ret)

We deployed to Operation Desert Shield in August 1990. At the time, I commanded the 20th Special Operations Squadron, flying…

AFSOC: New Commander, Missions, Modernization Plans

By Maj. Gen. Richard Comer (USAF-Ret)

When reviewing the year’s happenings, Lt. Gen. Bradley A. Heithold related that about three weeks after taking command of U.S.…

AFSOC: Missions Everywhere, All the Time, and a Revised Modernization Plan

By Maj. Gen. Richard Comer (USAF-Ret)

Air Force Special Operations Commander Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel has maintained his command’s focus on the current mission, the people,…

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) 2012-2013

By Maj. Gen. Richard Comer (USAF-Ret)

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has maintained numerous deployments to combat zones, worked numerous issues to modernize its fleet…

The Last Reunion of the Doolittle Raiders

By Maj. Gen. Richard Comer (USAF-Ret)

They arrived on the April 16 supported by the Ft. Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Ft. Walton Beach Military…

Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines (OEF-P)

By Maj. Gen. Richard Comer (USAF-Ret)

TABIAWAN, the Philippines – On the small jungle island of Basilan, success in the fight against terrorism may hinge more…

AFSOC Year in Review: 2011-2012

By Maj. Gen. Richard Comer (USAF-Ret)

“Our goal is to provide air mobility and specialized air support wherever special operations forces are engaged. When other SOF…

CV-22 Progress Report

By Maj. Gen. Richard Comer (USAF-Ret)

On July 2, 1991, this writer, as a lieutenant colonel, briefed then-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney and National Security Advisor…

AFSOC Begins a Long War – Special Operations Forces and Operation Enduring Freedom

By Maj. Gen. Richard Comer (USAF-Ret)

Editor’s Note: Maj. Gen. Rich Comer, who is well known to our readers, wrote the following piece from memory and…

AFSOC Year in Review

By Maj. Gen. Richard Comer (USAF-Ret)

Reflecting on his time in Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Headquarters, Lt. Gen. Donald C. Wurster reminisced about one…