‘No small achievement’: Academy celebrates vice supt’s promotion to brig gen

  • Published
  • By Ray Bowden
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
USAF Academy, CO --  The vice superintendent of the Air Force Academy traded his colonel’s insignia for brigadier general stars Jan. 29 in a promotion ceremony at the Falcon Club.

Brig. Gen. Kevin Lamberth, of Bay Minette, Alabama, is a former enlisted Airman and command pilot with more than 3,500 hours in a variety of aircraft. He was officially promoted to brigadier general Jan. 1, but scheduled the ceremony later in the month so relatives and friends spanning his 32-year Air Force career could attend.

“I’m a bit overwhelmed,” he told the audience of more than 250 Total Force Airmen and family members. “I never imagined I’d be promoted to a general officer.”

Lamberth arrived at the Academy in July 2014 to serve as the vice superintendent for Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, the Academy’s superintendent.

“I wasn’t sure where I’d fit in [at the Academy], but General Johnson took a chance on me,” he said. “The very first day, she said to me, ‘If you work hard for me, I’ll work hard for you.’ Well, General Johnson, you took a chance on me and I am here in large part because of you.”

Johnson presented Lamberth with his brigadier general flag after administering the oath of office.

“There are about 60,000 officers in the Air Force. Only 208 of them are general officers,” she said, noting the significance of the promotion. “You’ve done spectacularly well in all leadership positions. You’ve earned this promotion and you’ve earned everyone’s respect. This is no small achievement.”

Johnson read aloud highlights spanning Lamberth’s career and statements from his three decades of performance reports.

Lamberth is a 1983 graduate of Baldwin County High School in Bay Minette. He completed basic training in April 1984 and served as an enlisted target intelligence specialist. He attended ROTC at the University of Texas at Arlington and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 1990; completed Student Undergraduate Pilot Training in March 1993 at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas; and Student C-141 Combat Combat Crew Training in July 1993 at Altus AFB, Oklahoma.

“His call sign [as a pilot] was ‘Pappy’ because he was a ‘bit older’ than his classmates,” Johnson said.

From July 1993 through December 1996, Lamberth was a C-141B instructor pilot, pilot scheduler and the executive officer for the 15th Airlift Squadron at Charleston AFB, South Carolina.

Among his other assignments, Lamberth was the 305th Air Mobility Wing’s chief of safety and commander of the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron at McGuire AFB, New Jersey, from June 2004 through June 2007. He commanded the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, from July 2012 through July 2014.

Lamberth’s sons, Austin and Nathan, have served and sacrificed as military family members throughout their father’s career. They pinned Lamberth’s brigadier general stars on his uniform before speaking to the audience.

“I almost want to put on my resume ‘I’m the son of Kevin Lamberth,’” said Austin, 21. “It’s a privilege to follow his standard of excellence.”

Nathan, 17, said growing up in a military family had its challenges, but he learned to appreciate the U.S. military because of his father’s service. He told the audience of his plans to join the Marine Corps after graduating high school.

The event’s guest list included Katelyn Lamberth, Austin’s wife; Lamberth’s niece, Crystal Richardson; numerous high school and college friends; and former Air Force coworkers, including Chief Master Sgt. Sam Alkhoury, the superintendent of Cadet Wing Character Development and the former command chief of the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing during Lamberth’s assignment there.

“This promotion is a really great moment for the Air Force,” Alkhoury said. “We’re all going to reap the benefits of General Lamberth’s promotion.”

Alkhoury said Lamberth is a visionary leader.

“He’s not just thinking about today, he’s thinking about tomorrow,” he said. “He’s a persistent visionary who empowers his people to succeed.

“What also stands out is his loyalty. He’s always loyal to the mission and to his people, and he takes care of them,” Alkhoury said. “General Lamberth demonstrates on a daily basis that if you take care of your people, they’ll take care of the mission.”

Lamberth concluded the ceremony by thanking the audience, those who organized the ceremony and those unable to attend, including his mother, Dorothy Lamberth of Bay Minette.

“Thank you for being here helping me celebrate and making this a special day for my family,” he said. “And one thing is for sure, I did not get here by myself. There are many along the way to thank.”