Westover wing commander to head to Pentagon in September

Published June 23, 2014
By 439th AW Public Affairs

WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. - -- Brig. Gen. Steven Vautrain will end his tenure in September here to take his new job at the Pentagon.

The general has been commander of the 439th Airlift Wing since August 2011. He will be assigned as deputy director of strategic planning for the Air Force.

He is the eighth wing commander to be promoted to brigadier general while at Westover since 1974, when the base began its new mission as the nation's first stand-alone reserve base. Vautrain was promoted to brigadier general last December.

"It will be difficult to leave Westover," the commander said. "We have been through much together - hurricanes, snowstorms, deployments, furloughs, an unprecedented government shutdown, and numerous other challenges. It has been an honor to be your commander."

Col. Albert Lupenski will take up the top leadership post at Westover in September. He commands the 932nd Airlift Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. More specifics on the change of command ceremony date will be announced as soon as more information becomes available.