Third Air Force commander visits expeditionary troops across East Africa

The Third Air Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Paul Moga, and command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Stephanie Cates, recently visited multiple U.S. military installations across East Africa to gain insights on Air Force infrastructure, operational readiness, and international partnerships.

During the visit, the command team assessed the condition of the camps’ airfield and facilities and met with base leaders to discuss ongoing construction plans to sustain long-term readiness.   

The trip began at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, a strategic hub for U.S. operations under the Combined Joint Task Force HOA in Africa, where the leaders received a detailed briefing on the 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron’s mission, intelligence collection, and tactics that provided insight on their contributions to regional security and counterterrorism efforts. These Airmen support and sustain units across Africa.

Following Djibouti, Moga and Cates traveled to Magagoni Airfield, Kenya, to lay a wreath at the Operation Linda Nchi Memorial commemorating the Kenyan Defense Force fight against Al-Shabaab.   

While in Manda Bay, Kenya, Moga and Cates also visited the Airmen of the 475th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron at Camp Simba. The 475th EABS provides base operations and communications support for 13 mission partners, enabling Special Operations Command Africa missions in Kenya and Somalia. The command team received an overview of how the U.S. Air Force element and their host nation partners respond to regional threats, allowing them to see firsthand how the squadron ensures a more secure, stable and prosperous Africa by working alongside their African and international partners.

Throughout their visit, Moga and Cates had the opportunity to engage directly with service members, thank them for their efforts, and assess their needs.