Laughlin welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Joel Langton
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORECE BASE, Texas -- --  Mother Nature did her best, but even she couldn't stop the 47th Flying Training Wing's change of command ceremony; although she did make wing members hustle. 

Less than two hours before the ceremony, scheduled to start at 10:47 a.m. April 27, a weather advisory was issued with warnings of winds up to 50 miles per hour. 

Rather than host a change of command, the cavernous T-6 Weather Shelter had to live up to its name and purpose and house a majority of the wing's 110 T-6A Texans to protect them from the oncoming storm. So, while maintainers moved aircraft into the hangar, other members of Team XL moved the ceremony down the street into Anderson Hall. 

As the ceremony was moved, a plan was devised in case a tornado warning was issued, where and how they would have the ceremony. 

Within half of an hour of the ceremony being moved, the Visual Information team set up a webcast for the ceremony that would enable all of the wing's members to watch, since Anderson Hall was packed by 10:30 a.m. 

At 10:47 a.m. Maj. Gen. Gregory Feest, 19th Air Force commander led Col. John Doucette, outgoing commander and Col. Jeffrey McDaniels, incoming commander, down the right aisle of Anderson Hall. The two would soon be the 47th FTW's 23rd and 24th commanders. 

General Feest took the podium, where he lauded Colonel Doucette's record of success at the wing, pointed out that Colonel McDaniels had a series of victories in his career, but said the true standard bearers were sitting in the auditorium. "Men and women, stand tall, you've continually set the standard high and proven that American's airpower starts here, and you will continue to do so," General Feest said. 

Colonel Doucette bid the wing farewell, the guidon was passed, signifying a change in leadership, and Colonel McDaniels addressed his new wing. 

He said Laughlin will continue to turn out pilots. "First and foremost, our country remains at war and this wing's mission carries on," he said. "That is supporting today's fight and training for tomorrow's fights." 

He assured wing members that although the wing would be focused on the mission, the most valuable asset would be cared for. "We will train you for battle, we will train you to go on to other aircraft, we'll develop you professionally and we'll take care of your families so you can focus on the mission with the assurance they are well cared for."