Lt. Gen. Robert Bishop, 3rd Air Force commander, passes the 100th Air Refueling Wing's colors to new commander Col. Eden Murrie as outgoing wing leader Col. Michael Stough, right, looks on during a ceremony Friday morning at RAF Mildenhall, England. (Geoff Ziezulewicz / S&S)
RAF MILDENHALL, England — The 3rd Air Force continued its summer of command changes Friday as the 100th Air Refueling Wing here welcomed a new leader.
Friday’s ceremony was the ninth of 12 changes of command taking place in the coming months in units that fall under the 3rd Air Force’s umbrella, said Lt. Gen. Robert Bishop, commander of the 3rd Air Force.
Just a day before, the 501st Combat Support Wing at RAF Alconbury brought in its new leader.
Such ceremonies are always bittersweet, Bishop said before saluting the outgoing commander, Col. Michael Stough, and welcoming the incoming wing leader, Col. Eden Murrie.
Within the airy confines of a hangar, praise for the wing and its airmen was the order of the day.
The wing’s countless fueling missions are no small accomplishment, Bishop said.
“On the ground, you make it look easy,” he said.
The command is a high-pressure job with a lot of moving parts, Bishop said, but Murrie is up to the task.
“It’s a great day to be a member of the 100th,” he said.
After taking command, Murrie said the wing’s airmen have a great reputation.
Murrie comes to the 100th after serving as a special assistant to Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, NATO supreme allied commander and U.S. European Command leader.
“Thanks for letting me become a part of ‘team Mildenhall,’ ” she said.
After receiving the Legion of Merit, Stough spoke of the wing’s impeccable record, while praising Bishop and other Air Force leaders for letting commanders command.
“The medal just presented is really your medal,” Stough said. “The wing will continue to move forward in the future, and that’s as it should be.”
501st Combat Support Wing’s command changes
RAF ALCONBURY, England — The Air Force unit in charge of 10 diffuse installations throughout the United Kingdom and Sweden welcomed its new leader Thursday during a change-of-command ceremony here.
Col. Kimberly Toney took over command of the 501st Combat Support Wing, which provides a variety of administrative and operational services for smaller Air Force bases.
Col. Blake Lindner stood the wing up in May 2005. During the ceremony, he praised the 2,600 U.S. military and civilian personnel who fall under the wing.
Despite having just 900 airmen, the unit provided big-time support, he said, from communications maintenance to U.S. European Command support, as well as supporting the National Security Agency at RAF Menwith Hill.
“This is a big day for a unit with small numbers,” Lindner said. “Good things come in small packages, and they have huge mission effects.”
During her remarks, Toney said the support the wing gives is essential to the wars the Air Force is fighting.
“No, we don’t have airplanes, but we help airplanes fly throughout the world,” she said. “You all make it happen. It’s going to be my privilege to enable you to do more.”
