New commandant of cadets to arrive this summer Published May 9, 2014 By Ray Bowden Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Cadet Wing is slated to get its first new commandant in two years when Col. Stephen Williams arrives this summer, the Defense Department announced May 8. Williams will take over all responsibilities for cadet training from Maj. Gen. Greg Lengyel, now slated to serve as commander, Special Operations Command Europe, and director, Special Operations, United States European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany. Williams is currently the commander of the 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base, Japan. A 1989 Academy graduate, he was the top engineering mechanics graduate here. He's scheduled for promotion to brigadier general after he arrives at the Academy. According to his official biography, Williams attended pilot training after leaving the Academy and was a distinguished graduate at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz. Since then, he's held various squadron, wing and major command-level positions including F-16 Fighting Falcon Weapons instructor and Flight Examiner and assistant director of Cyber Planning at the Pentagon. Williams has 260 combat-flying hours under his belt; in 2007, he received the 2007 MacKay Trophy for the most meritorious sortie of the year.