Kirtland Air Force Base, NM -- In a Sept. 2 ceremony presided over by Army Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly, Director of the Missile Defense Agency, Col. Robert McMurry, Airborne Laser Program Office commander, was promoted to brigadier general.

General O'Reilly welcomed members of the Kirtland community and spoke highly of General McMurry.

"Robert is a leader for our future. He is not only a visionary, but he demonstrates the rare skill of also being a pragmatic, what we often call a common-sense leader who excels in making visions into reality. Robert's tenure as a general officer will be great, because he has the rare talent of addressing the challenges of today and seeing the opportunities of tomorrow."

General McMurry has served in a variety of engineering, program management and staff duties, including assignments with Air Education and Training Command, Air Combat Command, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Space Command and the Missile Defense Agency. In his previous assignment, he was vice commander of the Space Based Infrared Systems Wing.

General McMurry said he is often asked, "Why Air Force?" He answers by saying that he is motivated by the mission, the people and making a difference.

"The Air Force mission is to support and defend the Constitution, and we're on that. It's a mission that I can get up every day and say that that's what I like to do. The reason you like this job is, look at who you get to work with. The guys you come to work with every day are educated, hardworking, smart, patriotic people trying to do the right thing for their country, their company and their organization for a good reason and in a good way. How can you complain about that? We are the luckiest people in the world," said General McMurry.