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Operations Group and Fighter Squadron welcome new leadership

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kerry Reynolds
  • 192nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. --  
Official Emblem of the 192nd Operations Group

Official Emblem of the 192nd Operations Group
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The 192nd Fighter Wing held a joint change of command ceremony for the 192nd Operations Group and 149th Fighter Squadron, Jan. 20, 2018, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

Col. Darren P. Gray, former 149th Fighter Squadron commander, accepted command of the Operations Group from Col. Bryan P. Salmon. Salmon is continuing his Air Force career with Air Combat Command.

"I could not be more excited for the opportunity to lead the Air National Guard's most talented and diverse Operations Group. You are the Air Force's premier Air Dominance, Operations Support, Cyber Operations, Intelligence and Weather professionals and we are only going to get better. We will dominate in every domain," Gray said.

Gray has served as the 149th FS commander since 2016. He relinquished command to Lt. Col. Michael D. Schaner during the ceremony. Schaner previously served as the 149th FS Director of Operations.

149th Fighter Squadron Emblem

Official Emblem of the 149th Fighter Squadron
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“It is an absolute honor and privilege to be given the keys to the premier fighter squadron in the world. The experience and talent that this group of individuals brings to the fight is second to none, and it shows in everything they do. This team is ready to fly, fight and win tonight,” Schaner said.

The change of command ceremony is a military tradition rooted in history in which uniquely developed flags for each organization are publicly exchanged from the hands of the former commander to the hands of the new commander. This ceremony symbolically marks the change of leadership in military organizations.