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455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group changes command

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Richard Williams
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group Airmen welcomed their new commander during a formal change of command ceremony here, June 8, 2010

Col. Tom D. Miller, previously assigned as a National Defense Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., assumed command from Col. Lawrence Gatti.

"Tom, welcome to the team and welcome to the fight," said Col. Jack Briggs II 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, commander and officiating officer. "As you assume command of this group, do not try to fill Colonel Gatti's shoes. Instead, stand on his shoulders as you take this group to an even higher level of performance, discipline and execution. That performance, discipline and execution are what distinguishes the 455th EMXG and the
455th AEW as key members of the joint fight."

"Colonel Gatti I am humbled to follow you in command here," Colonel Miller said. "You have done an incredible job here.

"The disciplined maintenance performed by this group is known throughout the Air Force. It is what gives airpower to the joint fight and that is what we are here for," he said.

"There has always been a moral obligation between maintainers and aircrews and the aircrew's family to provide a safe reliable aircraft to take into battle and to come home in and it's clear to me from only a day or two watching that this group takes that obligation to heart," Colonel Miller said. "This group is comprised of professionals from throughout the total force but you have come here under one guide-on and as one team and today I am honored to join that team."

Colonel Gatti's next assignment is at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.