News

4 ceremonies highlight big changes for 435th AGOW

by Capt. Lou Burton
435th Air Ground Operations Group
June 16, 2023
U.S. Air Force Col. Bryan Callahan, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing out-going commander, bids farewell to the wing during the 435th AGOW change of command ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 9, 2023. The change of command was part of a larger ceremony which officially divided the 435th AGOW and 435th Air Expeditionary Wing a into separate organizations under their own commands, after Callahan previously commanded both wings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Trevor Calvert)

The 435th Air Ground Operations Wing welcomed its new commander, Col. Matthew Bartlett, during a change of command ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, June 9.

The change of command was the culminating event in a four-part ceremony that included the inactivation of the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing, activation of the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing and 406th AEW assumption of command.

“Prior to today, the burden and responsibility of commanding these two wings fell on one set of shoulders,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Derek France, 3rd Air Force commander. “These Airmen and mission sets — in very different theaters and continents — deserve a full-time commander to lead both of these wings.”

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Derek France, 3rd Air Force commander, pins a meritorious service medal onto Col. Bryan Callahan, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing out-going commander, during the 435th AGOW change of command ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 9, 2023. The change of command was the culminating event in a four-part ceremony that included the inactivation of the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing, activation of the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing and 406th AEW assumption of command. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Megan M. Beatty)

These ceremonies officially divided the air ground operations wing and air expeditionary wing into separate organizations under their own commands, after Col. Bryan Callahan, 435th AGOW out-going commander, previously commanded both wings.

Callahan relinquished command of the 435th AGOW to Bartlett, the former 435th AGOW vice commander.

Bartlett addressed his new wing during the ceremony to give thanks for their service and share his excitement for future operations.

“While through most of this past year I have been very deliberately focused on Africa, you [435th AGOW Airmen]now have my undivided attention,” said Bartlett. “I have a lot of work to do to ensure you have what you need to lead the way in this theater and in our Air Force and transform how we support our joint and coalition warriors as we defend this continent once more in history from enemies that threaten freedom and security.”

The 435th AGOW is comprised of three groups, nine permanent squadrons, three deployed squadrons, and more than 1,400 personnel across 21 locations in Europe. Their mission is to rapidly deploy forces to the forward edge, conduct command and control, execute the kill-chain, and set the theater to project combat airpower inside the anti-access/area denial threat environment in support of combined forces air commander and joint objectives.

U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Chambers, 406th Air Air Expeditionary Wing commander, right, assumes command of the 406th AEW from Maj. Gen. Derek France, 3rd Air Force commander, left, during a wing activation ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 9, 2023. The activation was part of a larger ceremony including the deactivation of the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing, assumption of command of the 406th AEW and change of command of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Megan M. Beatty)
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