JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – The 192nd Mission Support Group, 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, commemorated a historical moment in the redesignation of the 192nd Support Squadron June 7, 2025, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia.
A ceremony was held where the 192nd SS was restructured into the 192nd Force Support Squadron, 192nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, 192nd Civil Engineering Flight and 192nd Communications Flight to align with the broader U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard structures. All agencies reported to Col. Manaal I. Burge, 192nd MSG commander, then Col. Brock E. Lange, 192nd Wing commander, upon redesignation and activation.
Shamp assumed command of the 192nd FSS upon its activation. Later that afternoon, the squadron held its first change of command ceremony. The 192nd FSS welcomed Maj. Bakari S. Prioleau as the new commander and bid farewell to Shamp, who led the unit as the 192nd SS since July 2022.
Historically, the 192nd SS was known as the 192nd Military Personnel Section and the 192nd Services Flight when the 192nd Wing, then known as the 192nd Fighter Wing, was based at Byrd Field in Sandston. These two units provided support through food services, lodging, and personnel administrative relations.
In 2007, the 192nd FW moved from Sandston to Langley Air Force Base as part of the base realignment and closure commission to be part of the total force initiative with the 1st Fighter Wing. As part of this transformation, the 192nd SS was formed to house several agencies within the 192nd MSG to support crucial functions.
“Today, we celebrate the unwavering dedication and remarkable achievements of the 192nd Support Squadron and this long-awaited rite of passage,” said Burge. “This organizational change enables them to grow individually, chart their own path, decide where they want to excel and master functions with greater independence.”
As the newly designated 192nd FSS, the organization's goal is to strengthen its leadership and support for wing personnel by having designated agencies that specialize in the 192nd Wing's various needs.
Additionally, the newly activated LRS was formerly known as the 192nd Logistics Squadron, a vital component of the 192nd Logistics Group, which oversaw logistics and the aircraft maintenance element during the Sandston days.
The 192nd LRS unites the Supply Chain Management Flight and the Logistics Readiness Flight, and their mission will be to ensure every member of the 192nd Wing is fully equipped to deploy in support of state and national missions at a moment’s notice.
“This functional alignment empowers these organizations to become even more elite and effective,” said Lt. Col. Alex J. Shamp, 192nd FSS commander. “It's an investment in the future of the 192nd.”
The two flights that were activated are standalone entities under the 192nd MSG. The wing’s former 192nd Civil Engineering Squadron was deactivated in 2007 as part of the total force integration when the wing transitioned to Langley. The newly activated 192nd CEF will be responsible for the wing’s self-sufficiency by providing the best possible infrastructure and emergency services. The 192nd CF will be instrumental in providing the wing with essential tactical and commercial communication capabilities.
“Today, we're redesignating the 192nd Support Squadron as the 192nd Force Support Squadron. More importantly, our incredible flight's logistics readiness, civil engineering and communications are stepping into their own as standalone squadrons and flights,” said Shamp. “Although there may be a pang of separation, we know it's the right move.”
This ceremony was more than a redesignation of these organizations; it was an entirely new formation of the 192nd Wing’s Mission Support Group. It now consists of the 192nd Force Support Squadron, 192nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, 192nd Security Forces Squadron, 192nd Civil Engineering Flight, 192nd Communications Flight and the 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron, or RED HORSE.
“We face new adversaries, new threats and a new era of strategic competition,” said Burge. “This transition is going to demand flexibility, adaptability and a relentless commitment to learning and growth, but I have no doubt that the men and women of the 192nd have and will rise to the occasion.”