‘‘I’ve got a job for you, and I want you on my team.” For General Jodice, the call itself was an honor, and the answer was clear. As a result of that call, General Jodice will be taking a joint assignment in a region that has been strategically vital since Homer wrote The Iliad.

The AFDW change of command is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 18 in Hangar 3 on Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington, Md.

‘‘The thing that entices me most is this is a NATO assignment,” said General Jodice. As Allied Air Component and 16th Air Expeditionary Task Force Commander in Izmir, Turkey, General Jodice will be drawing on long established ties with NATO officers.

As the commander of the 80th Flying Training Wing, home of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program, at Sheppard AFB, Texas, the general worked with allied pilots at the premiere training facility. Couple that with experience building international ties as the defense attachÈ in Beijing for two-and-a-half years and his time as Deputy of International Affairs on the Secretary of the Air Force’s staff and it becomes clear why General Jodice was selected as the next Allied Air Commander in the region.

History of Service

General Jodice first appeared on Air Force muster roles in 1976. Since that time, he has seen the Air Force in many iterations and is continually impressed with its versatility.

‘‘The ability of our Airmen to change and adapt to the various challenges of this century floors me,” said the general. ‘‘It’s a tribute to their training and resilience that we have come this far as a service.”

Since 1976, General Jodice has flown, fought, led and built international relationships as an Air Force officer. His initial assignment revealed an interest in aviation. As an engineer at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, the general worked extensively with jet engine propulsion and was soon taking flight himself.

Since initial flight training at Columbus AFB, Miss., he has logged 3,500 flying hours in the F-111 Aardvark, T-38 Talon, F-15E Strike Eagle and UH-1N Twin Huey aircraft.

The general, like the Air Force itself, is dedicated to strengthening international ties. He still carries the wallet he received from the Turkish Senior National Representative while leading the flight training wing at Sheppard. The brown leather wallet, featuring an imprint of the Turkish air force’s flight wings, is well worn from the general’s many travels. ‘‘The Turkish people’s generosity is so overwhelming that this next assignment is sure to be something special,” said General Jodice.

AFDW: No Simple Command

October 2009 is General Jodice’s fourteenth month in command of the high profile organization known as AFDW.

As the voice of the Air Force in the National Capital Region, AFDW’s role in the Air Force is pivotal. Headquartered at Joint Base Andrews, AFDW provides support to the 89th Airlift Wing, the unit responsible for the aircraft commonly referred to as Air Force One. AFDW representatives are responsible for rolling out the welcome mat for foreign dignitaries, the first family and the commander in chief of the United States armed forces.

General Jodice works in concert with a protocol office that handles presidential cabinet level flights on a daily basis and is the focal point of the national press for events ranging from state funerals to the homecoming of wounded warriors. ‘‘This command is an amazing opportunity,” said the general. ‘‘The experiences I’ve had here cannot be replicated. The presidential inauguration and wounded warrior homecomings at the base gave me a chance to be a small part of events that mean a great deal to the country.”

AFDW handles contracting and expenditure assignments in excess of $10 billion annually. Its customers include Headquarters AF, the Secretary of the Air Force and the Department of Defense. General Jodice oversaw steady increases in both the size and customer satisfaction of the now self sustaining A4⁄7 directorate. A8 singlehandedly routes and accounts for $9 billion in expenses for AFDW, HAF, and tenant organizations throughout the NCR.

The general has shown repeatedly his priority is providing support services for all of AFDW’s customers within the NCR and worldwide. To that end, he guided the A1 directorate as it handled the promotional details of more senior rated officers than any major command.

The general has spent time with wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. His intense respect for fallen heroes buried at Arlington National Cemetery is displayed in the flawless manner in which AFDW provides support for conferring honors on our nation’s fallen.

First Flight

General Jodice assumed command of the Air Force District of Washington in August 2008 and immediately engaged in several projects impacting the entire National Capital Region. ‘‘One of the first things I wanted to get rolling was the writing and implementation of a new strategic plan,” he said.

He commissioned AFDW A9 to begin work on a study of the organization as a whole. After targeting directorates and senior officers with questions about the nature of the organization, researchers concluded that the mission and vision of AFDW needed clarification. ‘‘We were forced to re-analyze the entire process,” said Wanda Jones-Heath, A9 director. ‘‘The general was there every step of the way, ensuring we knew what his vision was and helping us arrive at an intelligently executed ultimate goal.”

Initially, General Jodice’s goal was to serve two years as AFDW commander, allowing him to see the strategic plan through implementation. ‘‘I know the people in this organization now have a clear direction. I may not be here to see every part of this implemented, but I know the path is set, and over the next five weeks we will accomplish all we can,” said the general.

In January 2009, AFDW played a major support role in the inauguration ceremony of President Barack Obama. The event was the largest outdoor event in Washington D.C.’s history and one of the most widely viewed global events in the information age. AFDW’s former Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Paul Wheeler, worked closely with General Jodice throughout the inauguration planning stages, ensuring coordination between NCOs and civilian security personnel. ‘‘General Jodice understood and thought ahead of problems during that whole process,” said Chief Wheeler. ‘‘No detail was too small.”

Fulfilling the Vision

General Jodice knows there are still objectives that need to be fulfilled before he hands off the guidon. On the upcoming transition, General Jodice has these words of advice: ‘‘As a matter of course, we have to remain focused on our mission and continue to take care of our total force Airmen and their families. By executing your mission to the degree you have during my tenure, AFDW will continue to be one of the premier organizations in the Air Force.”