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Col. Kenneth Moss, 374th Airlift Wing incoming commander, speaks to members of the audience during the official wing change of command at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Friday, June 24, 2016.

Col. Kenneth Moss, 374th Airlift Wing incoming commander, speaks to members of the audience during the official wing change of command at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Cody H. Ramirez/U.S. Air Force)

Col. Kenneth Moss, 374th Airlift Wing incoming commander, speaks to members of the audience during the official wing change of command at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Friday, June 24, 2016.

Col. Kenneth Moss, 374th Airlift Wing incoming commander, speaks to members of the audience during the official wing change of command at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Cody H. Ramirez/U.S. Air Force)

Staff Sgt. George Harlan, 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flying crew chief, unveils the new commander's name, Col. Kenneth Moss, on the 374th Airlift Wing's flagship aircraft during the official wing change of command at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Friday, June 24, 2016. Moss took command from Col. Douglas DeLaMater.

Staff Sgt. George Harlan, 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flying crew chief, unveils the new commander's name, Col. Kenneth Moss, on the 374th Airlift Wing's flagship aircraft during the official wing change of command at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Friday, June 24, 2016. Moss took command from Col. Douglas DeLaMater. (Cody H. Ramirez/U.S. Air Force)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Col. Kenneth Moss took command of Yokota’s 374th Airlift Wing on Friday.

It’s the first time that Moss, a 1992 graduate of the Air Force Academy, has been stationed in Japan. His previous assignment was as commander of the 43rd Airlift Group at Pope Army Airfield, N.C. He has more than 4,000 flying hours in T-37, T-38, C-21, C-130, KC-10 and C-17 aircraft, according to his official biography.

Moss told airmen, gathered to watch him take the wing colors from outgoing commander Col. Douglas DeLaMater, that they are serving in Pacific Air Forces’ “best wing.”

U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force commander Lt. Gen. John Dolan praised the airmen’s work during DeLaMater’s tenure, which saw them transport supplies to earthquake survivors in Nepal last year and Kumamoto, Japan, in April.

Moss will oversee the arrival of new C-130J Hercules and CV-22 Osprey aircraft in the near future, Dolan said.

robson.seth@stripes.com

Twitter: @SethRobson1

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Seth Robson is a Tokyo-based reporter who has been with Stars and Stripes since 2003. He has been stationed in Japan, South Korea and Germany, with frequent assignments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, Australia and the Philippines.

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