AFNWC commander celebrates promotion

  • Published
  • By Leah Bryant, AFNWC Public Affairs
  • Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Family and friends of Maj. Gen. Anthony W. Genatempo recently came to Kirtland Air Force Base to watch him pin on his second star.
 
Even though his promotion was official on May 7, Genatempo waited until COVID-19 restrictions eased locally to share the accomplishment with them on July 9.

He is the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center commander and the Air Force program executive officer for strategic systems.
 
Maj. Gen. James R. Sears Jr., commander, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, and Genatempo’s friend and neighbor, officiated the pin-on celebration.
 
“Your mom would be proud,” Sears told Genatempo.
 
Sears shared many of Genatempo’s achievements in the Air Force since he graduated as a second lieutenant from the Rutgers University’s ROTC program in 1991. He noted that Genatempo made up his mind to join the Air Force as early as seventh grade.
 
“Before his current assignment, the Air Force let him live on the beach and blow up things,” Sears said. “He told me that seeing those bombs blow up truly warmed his heart.”
 
It was then that Sears said he knew Genatempo was the right man in the right job as the Air Force program executive officer for weapons.
 
During the ceremony, Genatempo’s son, Rett, presented him with his Air Force cap with the two-star insignia.
 
“My son has had this honor since he was five years old,” Genatempo said with a catch in his throat, beginning with his promotion to major.
 
As a surprise, Rett, a music education major, performed the national anthem via recorded video with his two roommates, as well as a special song for his father in person.
 
“This is my ‘thank you’ for being my dad,” Rett said.
 
“There were a lot people who put money on how long it would take me to get choked up at this ceremony,” Genatempo said in his comments after his son sang.
 
“Quite honestly, I thought I would at least make it past the national anthem,” he joked.
 
The ceremony’s program included a special dedication to his mother, Philomena E. Genatempo, who passed away in November 2020.
 
“My mom had been at every one of my promotion ceremonies,” he said. “She had been the one who pinned the rank on my shoulders each time and I know she is here with us now.”
 
In conclusion, he thanked his friends, family members and co-workers for helping celebrate his promotion to major general and quoted a good friend of his who was always imploring him to “choose joy” and “fill your heart with what is important and be done with all the rest.”
 
“Today my heart is full and I am so very thankful to have all of you here,” he said.
 
As the AFNWC commander and Air Force PEO for strategic systems, Genatempo is responsible for the lifecycle management of nuclear weapons systems supporting two legs of the nation’s nuclear triad, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, air-launched cruise missiles, gravity bombs and nuclear command, control and communications systems. The center synchronizes all of Air Force Materiel Command’s nuclear materiel management support of Air Force Global Strike Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe. 
 
He is a career acquisition professional and has served in numerous program management and senior leader positions, including avionics program manager for the F-22 and as commander of the 640th Aeronautical Systems Squadron.
 
Prior to his current position, he was the Air Force PEO for weapons and director of the Armament Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.