Alaska’s top general to retire, hand command to new joint base leader

Alaska’s top military official is stepping down.
Lt. Gen. Russell J. Handy will retire after 34 years in the U.S. Air Force on Tuesday, following a change-of-command ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
 
For the last three years of his tenure, Handy has overseen Alaskan Command, the 11th Air Force and Alaska operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD.
Taking Handy’s place is Maj. Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, who most recently directed operation