EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Brig. Gen. Christopher Azzano reliquishes command of the 96th Test Wing May 31. Before he departs, he answered a few questions about his time with Team Eglin and shared some parting words for the base population and local community.
What are your overall thoughts/reactions about your time here at Eglin?
This is my second assignment at Eglin. I arrived as a captain in 2000 and departed three years later. Since that time, I’ve admired Eglin from afar and was thrilled to come back and command the 96th Test Wing. I’ve been impressed at the changes since the 5-center Air Force Materiel Command re-organization, and how the 96th TW now owns the test and evaluation mission as well as installation support for our 40 mission partners. We’ve enjoyed a lot of synergy as a result and our test mission is thriving because of its close association with our installation support professionals.
What will you take away from your time here?
It’s amazing what a talented team of professionals can accomplish when they set their minds to helping each other succeed. Each of our eight wings/wing equivalents has taken some degree of ownership for the success of everyone else. In times of reduced budgets and insufficient personnel, I can’t imagine we’d have survived without such a collaborative environment.
I credit leaders across the installation for their teamwork. You see it at every event, from Airman Leadership School graduation to the recent master sergeant promotion celebration. We are one team. Many missions and responsibilities, but one team.
Do you feel the Wing has improved during your tenure? If so how?
The Wing continues to execute its vital T&E mission with the combined skill and wisdom of an exceptionally talented workforce. In the last two years, we’ve charted a path toward the next generation of T&E capabilities and developed a strategy to resource them. Furthermore, this roadmap is integrated with the overall base development plan. That is something never before done here, so yes, I believe we are better than we were two years ago, as I’d expect from any talented organization.
What was something you’d heard about Eglin prior to coming here? Did it meet the expectations upon arrival?
I knew Eglin pretty well from my first assignment here. What I didn’t understand then was the incredible support of the local community. I knew it was here then, but I didn’t experience it every day like I do in my current position as installation commander. Our Emerald Coast friends hold their service members and military families in high esteem, and they will do anything to support the defense community on the Gulf Coast. Eglin and Hurlburt have been the recipients of this generous support. It is a great place to live, work, and defend our nation.
Is there an event or special moment that occurred for you while here that you’ll always remember?
The outpouring of support from all the Team Eglin and Hurlburt partners has been incredible! Eglin was a finalist for the Commander-in-Chief’s Installation Excellence award in 2016 and received runner-up honors out of 77 Air Force installations. The evaluation team was blown away by the diversity of missions here and the professionalism of our Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines. The Eglin/Hurlburt community also received the Association of Defense Communities award last year, a tribute to the Warrior ethos permeating every aspect of our service in this terrific community. We hosted the third straight Warrior Training Camp for our wounded, ill, and injured airmen athletes this year, and have already been asked to make it four in a row next year. Everyone wants to come here because everything we host, support, or own in terms of mission areas turns to gold!
What do you see in the future for Eglin and 96th TW?
I see Eglin growing in strength and prominence, not necessarily because of an increase in the number of missions, but by our evolution into the next generation of warfighting. I expect the 96th TW will lead the way as we develop future T&E capabilities, to include hypersonics, directed energy, and autonomous systems. I also see the Test Wing as a bedrock for cyber resilience and a future wealth of expertise as we strive toward the CSAF’s vision for multi-domain command and control. This will constitute a game-changing approach to combat operations and a quantum leap in lethality and effectiveness. I expect Team Eglin will lead that charge.
What was your goal when you took command? How do you think you did in reaching/achieving said goal?
My goal was simple and quite common among commanders, to leave the organization better than I found it. That was an ambitious task given how well the Wing was running under now Maj. Gen. (David) Harris’ leadership, but I think we achieved it. A lot has changed in two years and the 96th TW has adapted and proactively led some of our most important emerging national defense efforts.
Any final words for the 96th TW and Team Eglin?
Never underestimate the importance of what you do every day. Remind each other why your service matters—there are obvious examples everywhere. Take care of each other. Teamwork and mutual support are the foundation of everything we do. Our nation is counting on you, and I know you won’t let us down. On behalf of Jennifer and my family, thank you for your incredible support and friendship. It’s been an honor serving with you!