Homestead says goodbye to commander

  • Published
  • By Ian Carrier
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  The Homestead Air Reserve Base family gathered together behind the Falcon's Nest Club to send off their commander and his family in style May 1.

Brig. Gen. William B. Binger, Commander, 482nd Fighter Wing, was honored during "Blaze's Backyard Barbecue Farewell".  The event attended by hundereds of Airmen, civilians, family and friends all with intentions of saying goodbye and paying respect to "the boss".  The club served a variety of food and drinks, after which a many presentations were made by various groups on base.

General Binger entered the Air Force on active duty in 1981 after receiving his commission through Officer Training School. He earned his pilot wings in 1982 and graduated from fighter weapons school in 1988. He served on active duty from 1981 to 1996 and joined the Air Force Reserve in 1996 as an Active Guard Reserve member and in 2007 he became an Air Reserve Technician. General Binger is a command pilot with more than 4,500 hours in the F-16, including 40 combat missions over Iraq.

Then Col. Binger became the 482nd Fighter Wing commander in May, 2008, and pinned on his first star on April 3, 2009.

General Binger will be heading to Robins Air Force Base, Ga., in June as Commander, Force Generation Center, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command.