Commander earns nomination for brigadier general Published Dec. 5, 2005 By Sandra Pishner 446th Airlift Wing McChord Air Force Base, Wash. -- Col. Eric Crabtree, commander of the 446th Airlift Wing, has been nominated by the President for promotion to brigadier general, Air Force Reserve Command officials announced today. Crabtree’s promotion will take effect upon U.S. Senate confirmation and by direction of the chief of Air Force Reserve. As commander of Washington’s only flying Air Force Reserve wing, Crabtree is responsible for the organization, training, equipage, and worldwide readiness of a combined Reserve and civilian wing of nearly 2,300 people at McChord. The 446th Airlift Wing flies and supports the C-17 Globemaster III weapons system. Under Colonel Crabtree's command, McChord's Air Force Reservists are capable of deploying anywhere in the world, 365 days a year for training, humanitarian efforts or combat. Crabtree returned recently from 120-day deployment to Southwest Asia, where he served as the U.S. Central Command’s deputy director of mobility forces.