A star shines at Whiteman

  • Published
  • By Capt. Denise Haeussler
  • 442d Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AFB, Mo. --  Stars fell on Whiteman Air Force Base yesterday.

In all Air Force careers, there is mandatory training and education that needs to be accomplished to move up in the ranks, on both the officer and enlisted sides. Only about one percent makes it to the rank of brigadier general and according to Major General Craig Gourley, Deputy Inspector General of the Air Force, a quality individual saw that rank yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Hubert "Hubie" Hegtvedt, 442d Fighter Wing Commander, was promoted here April 11. His wife Camille, and three daughters, Marley, Gretta and Hannah helped to pin his rank during the ceremony.  Marley and Gretta also sang the National Anthem. Hegtvedt's extended family and friends, community leaders, and approximately 1,300 Airmen from the wing were in attendance.

"I'm humbled to be here and have this honor," said Hegtvedt. "I truly appreciate everyone taking the time to be here with me on this special day."

"It's a true testament to honor a great leader who's about to put some stars on his shoulders," said Gourley.  "He has strong character traits.  He's always been really resourceful and well-rounded from an early age."

Hegtvedt started his career after he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a degree in Industrial Technology/Manufacturing Engineering. He commissioned in the Air Force in 1988 and served 10 years of active duty in various F-16 Falcon assignments within Pacific Air Forces and U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and as a T-37 Cessna instructor pilot in Air Education and Training Command.

Hegtvedt transitioned to the Air Force Reserve in 1998 flying the A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-16 Falcon, and F-22 Raptor. He is a command pilot with over 4,100 hours of flying time with 195 combat hours in support of Operations Deliberate Guard, Northern and Southern Watch, Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

"He is model of Air Force core values," said Gourley. "He works with tenacity and grace.  There is not a task he completes that needs improvement. He's a great listener, he's humble and he's very adept at taking care of people."

Hegtvedt took command of the 442 FW April, 7 2013. Since then he's been responsible for the combat readiness of roughly 1,300 Air Force Reservists and 24 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircrafts at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri as well as two geographically separated units.

"The morale and hard work of this unit reflect the leadership of Hegtvedt," said Gourley. "No one is more deserving of these stars than him. "