RAF LAKENHEATH — Airmen of the 48th Operations Group gathered inside a base hangar last week to welcome their new commander.

Col. Garvin McGettrick took the reins of the group — part of the 48th Fighter Wing — from outgoing commander Col. Kent Laughbaum during a ceremony Thursday. Laughbaum will become the commander of the 355th Fighter Wing on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz.

The operations group consists of three flying squadrons of F-15 aircraft and one operations support squadron. In October, the 56th Rescue Squadron will fall under the group as well. The squadron originally was based out of Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland.