LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- U.S. Air Force Col. Richard Greig assumed command of the 47th Operations Group during an assumption of command ceremony at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, June 18, 2026.
Col. Eric Bissonette, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, presided over the ceremony and welcomed Greig to Laughlin and the 47th OG.
“Based on your experience, you have the exact kind of strategic vision and tactical grit that this moment in history demands,” said Bissonette. “You were hand selected for this role because the Air Force knows you are ready, and you'll be stepping into an extremely high performing organization that is already operating at 100%.”
Greig now assumes command of the 47th OG, overseeing training for U.S. Air Force and allied nation pilots under Laughlin’s Undergraduate Pilot Training Program. The 47th OG provides management, control, standardization and evaluation of all aspects of flying training operations and airfield management at Laughlin.
Prior to assuming command, Greig served as the Chief of Staff to the U.S. Special Operations Command Vice Commander and was a part of the National Defense Strategy Core Writing Team under the Office of the Secretary of Defense, both located at the Pentagon.
“I want to express my genuine excitement about joining Team XL,” said Greig. “This base has a historic reputation for not just a supportive and inclusive community, but also for producing the world's best pilots and maintaining a culture of excellence that is second to none.”
The 47th OG consists of three flying training squadrons, an operations support squadron and a student squadron. Beginning with the first Undergraduate Pilot Training class in the mid-1950s, silver wings have been pinned on nearly 21,000 pilots. Currently, the base uses the T-6A Texan II and the T-38C Talon to teach American and allied nation’s pilots to fly.
“Let's continue to build on the legacy of those who came for us, the drive towards a future where we can build a combat force that's disciplined, decisive, and durable to the changing environment in which we find ourselves,” said Greig. “I’m honored to be your commander, let’s get to work.”