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Afghanistan's largest AEW changes command

  • Published
  • By Capt. Erick Saks
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Command of Afghanistan's largest air expeditionary wing changed hands in a flightline ceremony here, April 22, 2011, when Brig. Gen. Darryl Roberson accepted the reins of the 455th AEW from Brig. Gen. Jack L. Briggs II.

Maj. Gen. Charles W. Lyon, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan commander, presided over the ceremony, during which he highlighting the critical role the Airmen of the 455th AEW play in the success of the mission in Afghanistan.

"I could talk about the accomplishments of the 455th all day," said General Lyon. "The 455th has a combat lineage that reaches back eight decades to the European theater of operations. Once again reactivated in 2001, the wing has been a partner with our European colleges and the other members of the International Security Assistance Force in the fight against those violent extremists that threaten our common goals."

During the ceremony, General Roberson accepted command of the composite wing which includes air mobility; close air support; combat search and rescue; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and electronic attack. It also includes aeromedical evacuation as well as command and control assets which support the International Security Assistance Force and Operation Enduring Freedom.

"(General Roberson) is a highly-experienced, combat-decorated, and combat-tested fighter pilot with extensive command and staff experience," said General Lyon. "Three commands and deployed combat experience in Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom mark (him) as the right man at the right time to continue leadership of this wing."

Prior to the change of command, General Lyon highlighted some of General Briggs' many accomplishments over the past year and awarded him with a Bronze Star.

"The 455th has not stood still under his watch," the general said during the ceremony. "The men and women of this combat outfit have continued to improve their infrastructure, their (tactics, techniques and procedures) and their method and purpose to accomplish their mission and mission support tasks."

Speaking to the Airmen of the 455th AEW for the last time as their commander, General Briggs emphasized the need to seamlessly maintain the mission during the transition of command.

"Running full speed is exactly what we do every day," said General Briggs. "And the word picture for this change of command is a 4-by-100 meter relay race. General Roberson and I are about to execute a well-timed, full-speed transfer of the command baton."

General Briggs highlighted the caliber of the Airman selected to succeed him as commander.

"Brig. Gen. Roberson is an Air Force superstar with the credentials to do this job," said General Briggs. "More importantly, he has the right heart as a leader to get the mission done while focusing on your welfare."

Upon accepting command, General Roberson addressed his wing.

"To the men and women of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, congratulations on all of your success" said the general. "We'll continue to support the fight by providing airpower that is responsive and precise. We will continue to defend this base as a part of an integrated team. And we will continue to be a force multiplier throughout the Afghan theater for our NATO allies, our coalition partners, our sister services, and especially for our ground component brothers."

General Briggs departs Afghanistan for Winnipeg, Canada, where he will serve as deputy commander, Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Region, and deputy commander for operations, 1st Air Division, North American Aerospace Defense Command. In this capacity, he will be the senior U.S. military member based in Canada, and he will oversee the execution of all Canadian air operations worldwide.