A former F-15 and F-16 pilot assumed command of the Air Force in the Pacific yesterday.

Gen. Carrol "Howie" Chandler comes to the job of from the Pentagon, where he was the deputy chief of operations. The Senate confirmed his appointment as commander of Pacific Air Forces, headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base, in November.

The 1974 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate replaces Gen. Paul V. Hester, who is retiring after more than 37 years of service.

Chandler will lead some 55,000 airmen and civilians in Hawai'i, Alaska, Guam, Japan and South Korea. He headed the Alaskan Command four years ago and commanded the 44th Fighter Squadron on Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, in the late 1980s.

He has also been the chief U.S. Air Force adviser to the Royal Saudi Air Force and was chief of staff for operations at Allied Air Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy.

As the Air Force's commander in the Pacific, Hester directed the service's part in the U.S. military relief effort for victims of the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

He headed Pacific Air Forces for more than three years starting in July 2004.