The Air Force's 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson has a new commander: Col. David Nahom. He'll take command in a ceremony Wednesday morning.

Nahom replaces Col. Dirk Smith, who has been promoted to the rank of brigadier general and will become deputy director for operations for the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii.

Nahom is a pilot with 470 hours of combat hours and more than 3,000 hours of flight time in the F-15C Eagle fighter jet and other aircraft, according to an announcement from the base.

The 3rd Wing at JBER flies the F-22 Raptor, C-17 Globemaster, C-12 Huron and E-3 Sentry aircraft.