Mainer tapped as chief for Pacific post

A Maine native has been nominated to be a four-star general in the U.S. Air Force.

Lt. Gen. William Begert would become one of the highest-ranking officers in the military, one of just 12 four-star generals in the Air Force.

Begert, a Lewiston native and 1964 graduate of Lewiston High School, has been named as the next commander of Pacific Air Forces, based at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.

Begert is the assistant Air Force vice chief of staff. He served as an air controller and flight examiner pilot for the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron in Vietnam in 1972 and 1973 and flew more than 300 combat missions over Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

After Senate confirmation, Begert will assume command from Gen. Patrick Gamble, who officially retires May 1 after 33 years of service.

In a prepared statement, Begert said he looks forward to the challenge of continuing the mission of the Pacific Air Forces and taking care of the 45,000 military and civilian people under his command.

The Pacific Air Forces’ area of responsibility extends more than 100 million square miles, from the West Coast of the United States to the east coast of Africa and from the Arctic to the Antarctic.