Lt. Gen. Seip new 12th AF commander Published Sept. 5, 2006 By 27th Fighter Wing Public Affairs DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZ. -- Lt. Gen. Norman Seip assumed command of the 12th Air Force and Air Force Southern today at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. He replaces outgoing commander Lt. General Mark Schmidt who will officially retire Sept. 1. General Seip will command seven active duty wings that include the 27th Fighter Wing at Cannon. The fighter and bomber wings possess 400 aircraft and more than 33,000 active duty military and civilian personnel. Before his current assignment, General Seip was the assistant deputy chief of staff for Air Space and Information Operations, Plans and Requirements. Among his responsibilities included formulating policy supporting air, space, intelligence and homeland security.