Ramstein welcomes new 521st AMOW commander

Members of the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing came together to welcome their new commander during a change of command ceremony Monday in Hanger 3 on Ramstein.

Col. Kip B. Turain joined the wing from Southwest Asia where he spent the past year as the vice commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. There, he was responsible for the wing’s air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance mission in support of overseas contingency operations.

“It is indeed a privilege to command and I am honored to join the ranks of this pivotal wing,” Colonel Turain said. “I assure you my performance will be guided by the heritage, honor and valor my mentors and all those who I have worked with have displayed, and I will serve with their spirit in my actions.”

Brig. Gen. Michael Kim, 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force commander, presided over the event and praised Col. Kimberly Corcoran, the previous wing commander, for her efforts in paving the way for Colonel Turain.

“(Colonel Corcoran) took one of Air Mobillity Command’s newest wings and thrust it to the forefront of our nation’s combat capabilities,” General Kim said. “This doesn’t just happen, it takes leadership. (She) built an organizational culture that  motivated and inspired our Airmen to exceed expectations. What the AMOW has done in the past couple of years has been nothing short of phenomenal.”

Colonel Corcoran is moving on to McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., to serve as the vice commander of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center.