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738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group Change of Command in Kandahar

  • Published
  • By Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Vladimir Potapenko
  • 438th Air Expeditionary Wing
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan --  U.S. Air Force Col. Michael R. Outlaw assumed command of the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group from Col. Bernard E. Mater during a change of command ceremony at the Afghan Air Force Kandahar Air Wing Jan. 15.

After serving for a year as the commader of the 738th, Colonel Mater is moving to Kabul to serve as the vice commander for the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing. But before assuming command in Kabul, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. David Allvin, commander of the 438th AEW, wanted to remind everyone in attendance of the impact that Colonel Mater has had while serving in Kandahar.

"You have completed an extremely successful command of this tremedous group," he said. "Your leadership philosophy and dedication have proven key to this group's many successes."

"The list of accomplishments is impressive," continued General Allvin. "From flood relief, to election support, to live-fire rocket training and sling load capability, the 738th has advised and assisted the Kandahar Air Wing to significant advance."

"You have without a doubt left a positive footprint in the Afghan Air Force community here in Kandahar," said General Allvin as he addressed Mater.

Presented with an opportunity to speak, Colonel Mater thanked the coalition forces and Afghan partners that have brought about the successes he witnessed as commander of the 738th before expressing satisfaction with the effort and attitude displayed by his team over the past year.

"A year ago, I pledged to have integrity in all that I do and expected the same in return. I believe that we have lied up to that promise," said Colonel Mater.

"I pledged to give you give you my best; to serve the group and the wing with professionalism and honor and expected nothing less from you. I believe we have lived up to that promise. I pledged to strive for excellence and maintain that standard across the group, and, again, I believe we lived up to that promise," he said.

Relieving Colonel Mater will be Col. Michael Outlaw, a command pilot with over twenty years of Air Force experience. Before arriving in Kandahar, Outlaw served as the deputy commander of the 352nd Special Operations Group at Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall, U.K.

Addressing his new Airmen for the first time, Colonel Outlaw expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the 738th, and reaffirmed the goal of all involved with NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan, all the while defining what would signify success for the group under his leadership.

"Men and women of the 738th, our mission is simple: we will guide and prepare the Kandahar Air Wing to provide unparalleled support to the Afghan National Army, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the citizens of Afghanistan," said Colonel Outlaw.

"We will know success when we have worked ourselves out of a job and are no longer needed by our Afghan counterparts," he said.