Ex-HAFB officer to return to South Korea

WASHINGTON — A former Hill Air Force Base fighter wing commander will soon be on his way to South Korea.

Col. Scott Dennis, whose promotion to brigadier general was recently announced, will become vice commander over the 7th Air Force at Osan Air Base in South Korea.

The return to Osan brings positive memories to Dennis, who last served there from 1998 to 2000.

"I had a great time," he said. "It's a great place. (The base) is like a village America within Korea."

He's looking forward to the assignment, which installs him as deputy to the lieutenant general commanding the 7th Air Force, who oversees all U.S. Air Forces in South Korea.

During the past year at the Pentagon, Dennis served as deputy director and then director of air operations under an Air Force deputy chief of staff. He oversaw the implementation of training programs and the career path for pilots of remotely piloted aircraft.

He also began negotiations with the Federal Aviation Administration to allow such aircraft to be used outside of restricted air space in the United States.

Dennis served at Hill Air Force Base as commander of the 388th Fighter Wing from July 2007 to July 2009 before leaving for Air Force Headquarters at the Pentagon.

— Joseph M. Dougherty