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Air Mobility Command officials stood up the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing at Ramstein Sept. 4 as part of its en route structure in Europe.
The 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing is now the headquarters for the existing 721st Air Mobility Operations Group, also at Ramstein, and the new 521st AMOG at Rota Air Base, Spain.
***image1***“This new wing will provide an enhanced level of control for our en route structure in Europe, which includes critical locations for getting people, cargo and patients to and from current war zones,” said Col. Kimberly Corcoran, the 521st AMOW commander.
Colonel Corcoran couldn’t believe that the time was finally here for the wing to be activated that she had worked so hard to help form.
“Not just being a part of the momentous occasion, but taking command of the wing was never expected,” she said.
“If you take a look at her resume, you can tell she is an excellent leader, having soared in everything she has done,” said Brig. Gen. Timothy Zadalis, 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force commander, on Colonel Corcoran taking command of the new wing.
“Air Mobility Command’s en route structure is a flexible organization that is shaped by the needs of national security,” said Colonel Corcoran. “We regularly evaluate how to move cargo and passengers more efficiently for support to the warfighter, as well as for humanitarian support.”
There are about 1,800 permanent-party personnel authorized, with approximately 1,250 assigned to the 721st Air Mobility Operations Group and 500 to the 521st AMOG. Both groups also contain a sizable deployed contingent, with 125 to the 721st AMOG and more than 400 assigned to the 521st AMOG.
Around the world, on average, a U.S. air mobility aircraft takes off every 90 seconds,
365 days a year. A wing commander will have the appropriate level of authority to ensure adequate response time and agility to meet changing theater requirements and support to the combatant commands.
Though the wing is new, the 521st AMOG has deep roots in Air Force history.
The unit was formally activated July 4, 1942, at Drew Field in Tampa, Fla. Originally designated as a Signal Aircraft warning battalion, the 521st AMOG’s span of control has encompassed everything from fighters to troop carriers and roamed from the United States to England, France and then Germany until becoming inactive Nov. 18, 1960, at Ramstein. The unit remained inactive until it was reconstituted and redesignated as the 521st Tactical Control Wing Aug. 31, 1985, only to be deactivated again.
Before taking command of the 521st AMOW, Colonel Corcoran received her commission and bachelor of science degrees in engineering mechanics and biological sciences through the U.S. Air Force Academy. She was the commander of the 116th Operations Group at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., in 2004, then became vice commander of the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force at McGuire AFB, N.J.,
until 2008.
