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New commander takes command of expeditionary mission support group

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Airmen assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group welcomed their new group commander during a change of command ceremony here July 3.

Colonel Robert Swisher, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing commander presided over the ceremony as Col. Marcia Meeks-Eure assumed command from Col. Richard Stonestreet.

Colonel Meeks-Eure is coming in from Arlington, Va., where she was the Collaboration Product Lead, Network Centric Enterprise Services, Global Information Grid Enterprise Services, and Program Executive Office for the Defense Information Systems Agency.

"Today, another prayer has been answered and a dream has come true for me as I begin my journey with you as the commander of the 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group," said Colonel Meeks-Eure. "I owe a special thanks to Colonel Swisher for giving me an opportunity to command a superb group of civil engineers, communicators, contracting specialists, force protectors, force service support providers, and logisticians as we continue to embark on our ongoing mission on the Global War on Terrorism.

"I'd also like to thank Colonel Stonestreet, my friend and fellow commander from the Air Force Academy, for leaving me an outstanding group of people with a strong reputation throughout the wing for providing top-notch support," said the new commander.

To the men and women of the mission support group the colonel said she looked forward to the opportunities and challenges that this command will bring and together with this group she knows her group can continue to provide the best dedicated expeditionary combat support possible to the warriors of the 386th and the associate tenant organizations in order to accomplish the wing's mission and to meet the Air Force priorities in fighting today's fight, taking care of our people, and preparing for tomorrow's challenges.

During the ceremony, Colonel Swisher thanked Colonel Stonestreet for orchestrating the mission success his group has enjoyed the past 12 months and to his family back in Illinois for their family support in allowing him do to so much here.

Prior to rendering a final salute to his group, Colonel Stonestreet summed up his year as the commander.

"I'd like to say thank you Colonel Swisher for the opportunity to lead the Air Force's premiere expeditionary mission support group," said Colonel Stonestreet. "The most important part of the group's success this past year has been the people who made it happen in each of our six squadrons. I've had the best team in the Air Force providing support for the best wing in the Air Force."

Colonel Stonestreet's next assignment is at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.