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New commander takes charge of 586th AEG

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shaun Emery
  • 386 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  After traveling more than 13 million miles under his command, members of the 586th Air Expeditionary Group said goodbye to their commander and welcomed a new leader July 8. 

Col. John Williams assumed command of the 586th Air Expeditionary Group from Col. Alan Metzler during a change-of-command ceremony at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing passenger terminal. 

Col. John Gordy II, 386th AEW commander, was the presiding officer for the ceremony. 

Colonel Gordy thanked Colonel Metzler for a job well done. 

"You successfully led one of our most demanding missions, the convoy truckers. You not only provided great leadership, but you worked tirelessly to get them [the 586th AEG] the equipment they needed to get the job done. No one did a better job caring for his Airmen," said Colonel Gordy.

As he addressed his Airmen for the final time, Colonel Metzler told them how proud he was of their hard work over the past year and how much he would miss them. 

"I'm incredibly proud of what the combat Airmen of this group have accomplished over the past year," said Colonel Metzler, "and I'm deeply honored to have served with them and to have served them as their group commander." 

As the new commander in charge of the 586th AEG, Colonel Williams is responsible for providing combat Airmen for various security and combat support requirements in southern Iraq and the surrounding area. 

The 586th AEG exercises operational and administrative control of about 700 Airmen supporting Army and joint missions in Iraq and other places in the region. The group's mission set includes base defense, area security, detainee visitation operations, line-haul convoy operations and chaplain services. 586th AEG forces are located at multiple sites throughout the region. 

Colonel Williams is a career logistics officer and has served in a variety of operational, command, and staff duties. 

Colonel Williams comes to the 586th AEG after serving as Special Operations Command director of logistics, Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii. 

Before arriving at the 586th AEG, Colonel Williams said he did some research on the group's mission and came away extremely impressed. 

"I found a myriad of information detailing and outlining the exceptional work this organization has been performing in the AOR," he said. "The positive perception was further enforced as I traveled from unit to unit, location to location meeting those men and women, observing them performing their duties with great diligence and pride. I'm going to put forth 110 percent effort in being a good follower a good leader and a solid member of this outstanding team." 

Colonel Metzler, will report to Langley Air Force Base, Va., for his next assignment.