AFIA commander recommend for promotion to general

  • Published
  • By Ryan Stark
  • Nucleus writer
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The commander of the Kirtland-based Air Force Inspection Agency, Col. Richard "Tex" Coe, has been recommended for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. The promotion awaits confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel released the list of general officer appointments on Jan. 8. Coe and 30 other Air Force officers are being recommended for the one-star rank.

The fact that few members of the Air Force's more than 300,000 Airmen reach that level is not lost on Coe.

"It's kind of surreal," Coe said. "It hasn't sunk in yet."

Coe was commissioned as an Air Force officer in 1990. Prior to leading AFIA, he served as an aircraft navigator, flying in B-1 Lancer bombers and F-15 Eagle fighters, among other aircraft. He holds a master navigator's rating with over 3,000 hours in the air.

Coe said he has fond memories from his time as commandant of the Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., from 2009-2011. He has also served in two combat deployments to Afghanistan, as well as stints at the Pentagon and Pacific Air Forces Command in Hawaii.

He holds degrees from North Carolina State University, George Washington University, Air Command and Staff College and National War College.

Coe attributed his success, in great part, to the Airmen he has worked with.

"When you think about it, nobody earns the rank by individual achievements," he said. "You get there by working with great people, having mentors and being raised by great parents. It's a credit to many people."

Coe has been commanded the Air Force Inspection Agency since 2013. AFIA serves as the operational arm of the Air Force Inspector General and does inspections for all Air Force functions, departments and mission sets. Aerospace medicine, education and training, force support, nuclear weapons, security and space operations all fall within the agency's mission scope.

Coe said that, with the promotion, a new assignment is coming.

"Usually you get the promotion when you get to the new job," he said. But Coe doesn't know yet where he, his wife of 25 years and their two teenage children will be headed next.

Reflecting on his time as AFIA commander, Coe said he is proud to have led others during difficult financial circumstances. Sequestration, furloughs of civilian employees and force shaping have impacted all the service's agencies,
including the inspection agency.

"It has been stressful for Airmen, both active duty and civilians," he said. "But we've been able to come together as a team, and that's what I look back at with the most pride."

The list announcing Coe's recommendation for promotion included Col. Vincent Becklund, former commander of Kirtland's 58th Special Operations Wing. Becklund was recommended for promotion to brigadier general. Becklund is currently serving as the military assistant to the commander