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455th AEW welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. James Law
  • 455 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan --  Col. Mike Holmes took command of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing from Brig. Gen. James Hyatt during a change-of-command ceremony here March 10. 

Colonel Holmes pinned on brigadier general March 12. 

Lt. Gen. Gary North, 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central Commander, presided over the ceremony and presented Colonel Holmes with the 455th AEW guidon, officially making him the wing's seventh commander since the wing activated at Bagram. 

"Your background (and) your preparations (have) prepared you perfectly for the command time ahead," said General North. "It's with great assurance and great expectations of success for the wing that I pass you the flag." 

After thanking General North for the opportunity to serve with the best people America has to offer, Colonel Holmes addressed approximately 500 Airmen, Soldiers and coalition forces in attendance. 

"I am honored to be here with all of you who have left your home, family and friends to come here and help the people in Afghanistan," said Colonel Holmes. "Men and women of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, this opportunity to work with you is truly a dream come true for me. Your exploits in the skies, on the flightline, in the bases and across the mountains and plains of Afghanistan are writing a new page in history and you are literally my heroes. 

"If we are going to continue to set the standard for employing expeditionary airpower, and we are, we'll need the best efforts of everybody on this total force team...military and civilian, active duty and reserve component." 

Colonel Holmes entered the Air Force through Officer Training School in 1981. He has commanded a fighter squadron, a specialized undergraduate pilot training group and a fighter wing, and has served on the United States European Command and United States Air Force staffs. 

General Hyatt, who received a Bronze Star Medal for his leadership of the wing during the past year, will serve at the Pentagon as the Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense.