8th Fighter Wing Commander relieved of duty, new commander appointed Published Nov. 10, 2008 KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The commander of the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, Korea, was relieved of his duties Nov. 10. Col. Bryan Bearden was relieved of command by Gen. Howie Chandler, commander of Pacific Air Forces. Gen. Chandler cited the challenges of the demanding mission at Kunsan AB and said new leadership was required to maintain the highest levels of precision and reliability. The decision was driven solely by duty performance factors. Col. Bearden will be reassigned to a position, yet to be determined, outside of Korea. A new wing commander, Col. Jerry Harris, has been appointed by Gen Chandler. Col. Harris was serving as the 13th Air Force Director of Operations at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. U.S. airpower in the Republic of Korea plays a key part in securing U.S. interests and maintaining peace in the Pacific. The mission of the 8th FW, "Defend the base, Accept Follow-on Forces, Take the Fight North," encompasses a wide array of missions, challenges leaders at all levels, and demands the utmost from every Airman. In a statement to Wolf Pack service members, Col. Bearden said, "With our mission comes a significant responsibility and accountability. Clearly, that starts with me and I take full responsibility for performance across this wing. As our service members continue to train and be tested, I expect they all will ensure the highest possible standards and levels of performance. I have been honored to serve as the 8th Fighter Wing Commander and be a part of such a great team."