Submitted Photo Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost became commander of Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center on Friday. Armagost is a former commander of Minot Air Force Base’s 5th Bomb Wing.

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, a former commander of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, is the new commander of Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center.

According to Eighth Air Force and J-GSOC Public Affairs, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost assumed command from Maj. Gen. Andrew Gebara during a ceremony on Friday at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.

Gebara leaves the “Mighty Eighth” to become the deputy chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration at Headquarters Air Force in Washington D.C.

Coming to the Eighth Air Force from Air Force Global Strike Command, Armagost previously served as the director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements. He was responsible for strategic planning, establishing requirements and programming advocacy for the nation’s Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile force; B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers; MH-139 and UH-1N helicopters; and the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center Aircraft; and Nuclear Command, Control and Communications systems.

The 5th Bomb Wing has B-52 bombers and the 91st Missile Wing has intercontinental ballistic missiles in underground facilities in the Minot missile field.

Armagost is a 1992 graduate from the United States Air Force Academy. As a command pilot, he held a variety of positions including commander of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base from July 2014-June 2016.

“It is an honor to be a part of this mission,’ said Armagost. “The Eighth Air Force has a long history of being at the center of Air Force operations, and I cannot wait to continue to build upon that legacy. The men and women that make this mission happen are the reason we’re the best fighting force in the world, and I’m honored for the opportunity to lead these airmen.”

As commander of Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Armagost will be responsible for America’s B-1, B-2 and B-52 bomber force, overseeing bomber task force missions and mission planning elements conducted by the J-GSOC as well as the care of approximately 24,000 airmen and their families.

Armagost is the 57th commander of the historic Eighth Air Force.