Commander receives second star

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  David W. Eidsaune stood before his family, friends, peers and subordinates and accepted the rank of major general from his boss, General Bruce Carlson, commander of Air Force Materiel Command. 

In the promotion ceremony at the Air Armament Museum Oct. 26, General Carlson spoke about heritage and the illustrious career of General Eidsaune, who currently serves and the Program Executive Officer for Weapons and the commander of the Air Armament Museum. The general pointed out that out of more than 69,000 officers in today's Air Force, General Eidsaune joins an elite group of approximately 120 major generals. 

"His is one of the remarkable diverse resumes," General Carlson said. "He's the commander of one of the jewels in the Air Force, so not only is he one of my right-hand men but also for Sue Peyton (Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition). It's an honor to be here to recognize the general; he's done a remarkable job for a guy who started out as an engineer." 

After the publishing of the official order and swearing in, General Eidsaune talked about the goals he had in his career and how those goals changed over time. He spoke about his ultimate goal to reach the rank of colonel and to become a wing commander, which he achieved while at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. 

"If I made it to colonel, I wouldn't ask for anything else," the general said. "I honestly never made any other goals." 

General Eidsuane urged those in attendance to not to follow his example of goal setting, but to "set one out there that you think you can get to and then set it a little farther." 

General Eidsaune said he was humbled when he learned he was selected for his first star. It's a trait he still carries today as he pinned on his second star. 

I practice a lot of humility now, keeping my perspective, trying to find the balance in my life," he said. 

He relies on a quote from Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman that he carries in his day planner to remember that it's the people who work for him who are more important than he. 

"Every time I see that I am reminded that it really is the airmen, the sergeants and the company grade officers who do the work, and I'm just here to help them out. They are really running the Air Force for us."