SCOTT AFB, Ill.—On Friday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III hailed Scott Air Force Base, headquarters for Transportation Command, as the epicenter of the U.S. military’s global reach.

Austin was on base for a change of command ceremony, as Gen. Randall Reed, newly-promoted to the rank of four stars, succeeds Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, who is retiring after 36 years in the Air Force.

“When crises strike, when the Commander-in-Chief asks for options, the ability to move comes first. And the department of defense stands ready because of TRANSCOM,” Austin said, pointing to the role it played to get weapons and ammunition to Ukraine to defend itself against the 2022 Russian invasion, and later to help reinforce NATO allies in Europe.

After the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, TRANSCOM moved U.S. forces into the region, delivered military aid to Israel and humanitarian supplies to Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

“This department cannot keep America safe without you. TRANSCOM is the secret to our ability to project, to maneuver and to sustain our forces anywhere in the world,” Austin said.

Gen. Reed is no stranger to Scott Air Force Base. Since May of 2022, he’s been Deputy Commander for Air Mobility Command, which is also headquartered at Scott. He arrived after having been Commander of the Third Air Force at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. 

"Make no mistake. The work we must do now to deter growing threats is serious and demands a sense of urgency. Nevertheless, we will never why away from the contested environment in any domain,” Gen. Reed. said.

The ceremony comes nearly 37 years to the week that the defense department officially launched Transportation Command in 1987.

“Over time our mandate has expanded. To project, maneuver and sustain the joint force at a time and place of our nation’s choosing. If we were a necessity before, we are indispensable now,” Gen. Van Ovost said.

“Over the past three years I challenged you to improve readiness, build and empower teammates, defend and improve our cyber demain and drive towards decision advantage you delivered that and so much more.

“Ultimately, you delivered hope, deterrence and freedom around the world, and I’m honored to serve with you.”