New Expeditionary Center commander announced Published May 24, 2016 By Senior Master Sgt. Shawn J. Jones USAF Expeditionary Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Leadership of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center will change hands Aug. 2. The Expeditionary Center, located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the Air Force's center of excellence for advanced mobility and expeditionary combat support training and education. Maj. Gen. Frederick "Rick" Martin, who has led the center since September 2013, plans to retire after more than 35 years of service. Incoming commander Maj. Gen. Christopher J. Bence, is currently serving at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as the vice commander of the 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force. Prior to this assignment, Bence served at Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall, England, as the director of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-United Kingdom. Bence's recent experience working with European partners will pay dividends as the Expeditionary Center has direct oversight for a global en route structure that relies heavily upon European collaboration. Bence's other general officer assignments include serving on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, where he was the deputy director for operations with the National Military Command Center's Operations Team Two. Prior to that, he was the deputy director for the operations and plans directorate within U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Bence is a command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours in the KC-135, C-5 and T-37.