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12th AF commander, chief to visit Tinker, Feb. 1-3

  • Published
  • By Darren D. Heusel
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Lt. Gen. Robin Rand, 12th Air Force commander, and his command chief master sergeant, Chief Master Sgt. Gerardo Tapia Jr., will pay their first visit to Tinker Air Force Base Feb. 1-3, after taking over the top two leadership positions within the command late last year.

Both senior leaders will spend their two days at Tinker touring the base and holding a number of meetings with Airmen of all ranks, including civilians.

General Rand is commander of 12th Air Force, Air Combat Command, and commander of Air Forces Southern, U.S. Southern Command, headquartered at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

As commander, General Rand ensures the readiness of 10 active duty wings and one direct reporting unit for contingency operations, oversees 19 gained Air Reserve component units, and employs 17 airframes totaling more than 680 combat aircraft with more than 73,900 Airmen.

As the air component commander of U.S. Southern Command, he conducts security cooperation and provides air, space and cyberspace capabilities throughout 31 nations of Latin America and the Caribbean.

General Rand was commissioned in 1979 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. During his career, he's had multiple flying tours; served as an air liaison officer with the U.S. Army; and has had staff tours on the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense and Air Staff.

General Rand's previous commands include the 36th Fighter Squadron, USAF Weapons School, 8th Fighter Wing, 56th Fighter Wing, and the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq.

Prior to his current assignment, he served as Special Assistant to the Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters Air Force, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

As the command chief, Chief Tapia advises the commander on all issues regarding the health, welfare, morale and effective utilization of assigned enlisted personnel.
Chief Tapia was born in El Paso, Texas, and graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School. He entered the Air Force in April 1985.

His background includes various duties in personnel management at base level, major command, the Air Force Personnel Center and a joint duty assignment with Headquarters Alaskan Command.

Before assuming his current position, Chief Tapia served as the 49th Wing command chief master sergeant at Holloman AFB, N.M.