Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      U.S. Air Force Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, U.S. Pacific Air Forces commander, speaks at the 354th Fighter Wing’s Last Jet Arrival Party May 13, 2022, on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, U.S. Pacific Air Forces commander, speaks at the 354th Fighter Wing’s Last Jet Arrival Party at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 13, 2022. The arrival of the wing’s final jet, April 15, marked the end of a two-year beddown process that yielded two operational fighter squadrons comprised of 54 permanently assigned, combat-coded F-35A aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Schoubroek)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Eielson AFB celebrates F-35 beddown completionPublished May 19, 2022
                    
                    
                    354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
            **EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) --**The **354th Fighter Wing** celebrated the arrival of its final **F-35A Lightning II** aircraft and the subsequent completion of its fleet with a ceremony, May 13.**Gen. Ken Wilsbach**, **Pacific Air Forces** commander, and retired Gen. Gary North, Lockheed Martin vice president of customer requirements, attended along with several other military and local community leaders to commemorate the occasion. The arrival of the wing’s final jet on April 15 **marked the end** of a two-year beddown process that yielded two operational fighter squadrons comprised of 54 permanently assigned, combat-coded F-35A aircraft.U.S. Air Force Col. David Berkland, 354th Fighter Wing commander (right), poses with representatives from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command  and Lockheed Martin at the Last Jet Arrival Ceremony May 13, 2022, on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.Representatives from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Lockheed Martin and the 354th Fighter Wing stand for a group photo during a ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 13, 2022. The arrival of the wing’s final jet, April 15, marked the end of a two-year beddown process that yielded two operational fighter squadrons comprised of 54 permanently assigned, combat-coded F-35A aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Schoubroek)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    











The arrival also finalized the wing’s transformation into a formidable fifth-generation fighter wing and cemented Alaska’s status as the most concentrated U.S. state for fifth-generation aircraft, achievements that would not have been possible without the dedication of the Airmen who have been assigned here through the years.
“From our Airmen to our amazing group leadership to the wing staff, thank you all for everything you've done to get us to this day,” said **Col. David Berkland**, 354th FW commander. “Thank you to our partners from Lockheed and the amazing teammates they’ve been in getting these aircraft to us and ready to go. We did this 54 F-35 beddown at record speed despite a pandemic as well as Arctic temperatures in order to bring the 354th Fighter Wing up to a full fifth-generation war-fighting posture, honoring our legacy of valor in combat. The Icemen have the iron, and we are ready.”
The arrival of the final jet also makes Alaska’s strategic location more apparent than ever before. Fighter jets departing from Eielson AFB are able to reach anywhere in the northern hemisphere in one sortie. With the **Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex**’s more than 75,000 square miles of airspace, the state also continues to be a premier training location for joint and allied forces.


    
    U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Samuel Chipman, the 356th Fighter Squadron commander (right), briefs distinguished visitors May 13, 2022, on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.Lt. Col. Samuel Chipman, the 356th Fighter Squadron commander (center right), briefs distinguished visitors at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 13, 2022. Eielson AFB has a total of 54 permanently assigned, combat-coded F-35A Lightning IIs, cementing Alaska’s status as the most concentrated U.S. state for fifth-generation aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jose Miguel T. Tamondong)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    










“The task of standing up two new F-35 squadrons was not small,” Wilsbach said. “You made it look easy, but we know it was not. That’s because of the professionalism of the Airmen who work here at Eielson. The Icemen did a fabulous job of standing up this capability here, and the community around Eielson has also been incredibly supportive not only of our Icemen and our mission but this aircraft as well. We’re grateful in so many ways this mission has been so welcomed here.”
The ceremony was followed by a party co-hosted by the 354th FW and Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of F-35As, to thank the active-duty Airmen, civilian employees, community leaders and family members, who contributed to the success of the beddown process.LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



354th FW 



F-35A Lightning II 



PACAF 



Eleventh Air Force 



Pacific Air Forces 



Eielson AFB 



ceremony 



Gen. Ken Wilsbach 



Beddown 



upgrade 



Aircraft 



airpower 



modernization 



fifth-gen 



Lockheed Martin 



Alaska Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil