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General Bowlds takes command of Electronic Systems Center

  • Published
  • By Chuck Paone
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds took command of the Electronic Systems Center in a change of command ceremony held at Hanscom AFB's Aero Club Hangar Nov. 7. 

Lt. Gen. Chuck Johnson, who had commanded the center since December 2003, passed the reins to General Bowlds. Then, in a follow-on ceremony, General Johnson officially retired after more than 35 years of Air Force service. 

Gen. Bruce Carlson, commander of the Air Force Materiel Command, officiated both ceremonies. 

General Bowlds thanked General Carlson for his confidence in selecting him for the job, and commended General Johnson for building such a solid organizational foundation. 

He also recognized Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Sue Payton, who was in attendance, and said he very much looked forward to joining her team. 

General Bowlds will serve as the program executive officer for the Air Force's command and control and combat support portfolio of programs, in addition to his role as center commander. 

"I am truly honored to be given the opportunity to command a high-performing organization," General Bowlds said. "It's truly a once-and-a-lifetime opportunity." 

He listed four focus areas: people, acquisition, communication, and, listening and learning. 

"While it's a trite phrase, I truly believe people are our most important asset," he said. He emphasized the responsibility leaders have to "grow the next generation of leaders," and spoke about the importance of proper training and career development. 

"These things must not be left to chance," he said. 

Stating that he'd spent his entire career in one form or another of acquisition - research, flight test, Pentagon staff work, and direct program responsibilities - he noted that it's a "difficult and very important business. 

"With precious few modernization dollars, the criticality of what we do is even greater," he said. "When you add in the Global War on Terror, you have an acquisition perfect storm."
All of that only adds to the criticality of vigorously communicating with all relevant stakeholders, General Bowlds said. 

"Acquisition is a bureaucratic contact sport. It requires constant dialogue and engagement with everyone involved - and not a one-way, once-and-awhile conversation, but what I would characterize as analogue leadership: constant, face-to-face contact and involvement." 

Last but not least, General Bowlds said he intended to spend most of his early weeks on the job listening to and learning from the people of ESC. He said his time with the Air Force Research Laboratory, which he commanded until two weeks ago, has given him some familiarity with ESC programs, but that he has "much to learn." 

"That extends beyond the acquisition business to all aspects of Team Hanscom," the general said. 

General Carlson, during his remarks, lauded General Johnson for a list of major accomplishments and for "continuing to raise the level of excellence" of the center.
He then assured the crowd packed into the hangar that they were being placed in good hands. 

"(General Bowlds) has the right experience and the right skill, and he has a strong set of core values," General Carlson said. "He's the right Airman to take this job at this time."
General Bowlds entered the Air Force in 1975, earning his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. In early assignments, he served as an engineer in an Air Force laboratory and as a flight test engineer on the F-117. He has worked as avionics program manager on the B-2, bomber branch chief at the Pentagon, chief of Advance Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile development in the AMRAAM System Program Office, and as commander of the Rome Laboratory in Rome, N.Y. 

General Bowlds also served as the deputy director of Global Power Programs with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. Prior to assuming his position as AFRL commander, he was assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, as deputy for acquisition. 

The general holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University, a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson, and a master's in engineering management from the University of Dayton, Ohio.