BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
Col. James Kerr relinquished command of the Air Force Reserve's 940th Air Refueling Wing during a ceremony here June 10, 2006.
The colonel is transferring to McGuire AFB, N.J. to be the commander of the 514th Air Mobility Wing.
"I'll always remember the precious people who make up this outstanding unit," Colonel Kerr said. "I owe my success to the 940th Citizen Warriors, because I truly stood on the shoulders of giants."
Colonel Kerr assumed command of the 940 ARW in July 2004. Highlights from his tenure include the transition from the KC-135E model to the KC-135T, and support of numerous operations and training missions in addition to the Global War on Terror. The wing also won an unprecedented fifth consecutive Outstanding Unit Award while Colonel Kerr was in command.
"If I can leave a legacy," Colonel Kerr said, "it's that the 940th ROCKS! Thanks for supporting, embracing, and accepting me into the 940th family."
Air Force Reserve Command has not yet named a new wing commander for the 940 ARW. Instead, Col. Al Reif, the new 940 ARW vice commander, will act as temporary commander of the wing until a new commander arrives, which is expected within two to three months.
The 940 ARW is scheduled to transition from the KC-135T Stratotanker to the Global Hawk, an unmanned high altitude aerial reconnaissance aircraft. The new commander will lead the unit through the transition during the next two years.