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Luke AFB’s new commander arrives from Baghdad, Iraq

Brig. Gen. Gregory Kreuder replaces retiring Brig. Gen. Todd Canterbury

Posted 5/26/20

Luke Air Force Base airmen welcomed their new wing commander May 27 as Brig. Gen. Gregory Kreuder took command of the 56th Fighter Wing from Brig. Gen. Todd D. Canterbury.

Mr. Kreuder, a command …

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Luke AFB’s new commander arrives from Baghdad, Iraq

Brig. Gen. Gregory Kreuder replaces retiring Brig. Gen. Todd Canterbury

Posted

Luke Air Force Base airmen welcomed their new wing commander May 27 as Brig. Gen. Gregory Kreuder took command of the 56th Fighter Wing from Brig. Gen. Todd D. Canterbury.

Mr. Kreuder, a command pilot with more than 2,900 flying hours, including 350 combat hours, arrives to Luke from U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq, where he served as senior defense official, Defense Attaché.

He was commissioned in 1995 as a distinguished graduate of officer training school after earning a bachelor of science from Rice University and a master of science from the University of Texas.

“To the men and women of the 56th Fighter Wing, I am truly honored and humbled to be your commander,” Mr. Kreuder said. “My number one job is to take care of you and your families while we train the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat ready Airmen together. You already have my full trust and confidence; I will do my best to earn yours.”

Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, commander of 19th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, officiated the ceremony and highlighted Mr. Canterbury’s many accomplishments at Luke.

“Canterbury is well known throughout our Air Force,” Wills said. “[He’s] an outstanding leader with compassion for airmen; fighter pilot, combat veteran, Thunderbird, weapons officer, two-time wing commander and one of the Air Force’s true experts on fifth-generation warfare.”

Mr. Wills continued to praise Mr. Canterbury for his leadership during his tenure at the wing, and presented him with a Distinguished Service Medal.

“I would like to turn the attention from me to the men and women from the 56th FW,” Mr. Canterbury said. “I, as their commander, would like to reverse the roles as my last duty in the Air Force, I would like to salute them. They are the ones responsible for turning my vision into a reality.”

He retires after 27 years of serving in the Air Force.

Mr. Wills welcomed Mr. Kreuder, who’s known as “Freddy,” and his wife, Nancy, to the team.

“Freddy has an incredible track record of success as a fighter pilot, as a strategist, as a diplomat, studied at our finest institutions,” Mr. Wills said. “I’ve worked with him in USAFE, PACAF and the Middle East in Bagdad and I can attest that there’s no finer officer to take the helm here at Luke. I’ve been most impressed by Freddy’s calm demeanor, keen intellect and his thoughtful, collaborative approach to leadership. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s the perfect leader to take the flag today here.”

As the change of command concluded, Mr. Kreuder emphasized his vision regarding the role of airmen at Luke.

“We can have the most advanced aircraft and technology in the world, but it is you, our airmen, who remain our greatest weapon, an asymmetric advantage, over any adversary that challenges us,” he said.

Editor’s note: Information from the 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office at Luke Air Force Base.