Photo By Sgt. Kirstin Rodgers | Col. Tray J. Ardese, commanding officer of Marine Air Group 41, and Col. Adam P....... read more read more
NAVAL AIR STATION JOINT RESERVE BASE FORT WORTH, Texas – Marines, family members and friends welcomed a new commander to Texas and to the Cowtown area, while others said their final goodbyes. Col. Adam P. Holmes, Commanding Officer, relinquished command of Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, to Colonel Tray J. Ardese June 15 during an official ceremony on the flight line at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.
Holmes, a Naval Aviator with more than 40 combat missions and the former commander of MAG-41, addressed family and friends during a final farewell to the group.
“Rook (Col. Holmes) couldn’t have done a better job with this command,” said Ardese. “I have immense respect for Rook and the way he has lead this unit.”
Ardese was commissioned in 1990 upon graduation from Southeastern Oklahoma State University with a B.A. in History. In 1993 he completed Naval Flight Officer training, earned his wings and was subsequently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, as a Heavy Machine Gun Platoon Commander, en route to becoming an F/A-18 Hornet pilot.
Since completion of his F/A-18 flight training, Ardese has flown many combat missions; he has deployed three times to Aviano, Italy in support of Operation Deny Flight/Provide Promise and Operation Silverwake as a member of Marine Corps aviation.
Ardese has also deployed as a part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, and to Al Asad Airbase, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ardese has also participated in operations in Japan and has deployed twice globally with Special Operations Forces.
“He (Col. Ardese) is a patriot, and a true hero to this country,” said Holmes. “I am honored to be handing MAG-41 over to someone so capable and who loves his country.”
Before reporting to NAS JRB Fort Worth as the commander of MAG-41, he was the Chief of Current Operations for U.S. Strategic Command, Joint Functional Component Command Global.
Despite his many personal honors, Ardese says much of his success is attributed to the people who have guided, inspired and helped mold him into the leader he is today.
“You don’t rise to this level unless you are standing on the shoulders of giants,” said Ardese. He thanked those “giants” in his life, many of whom were sitting in the audience, for being a constant source of motivation.
During the ceremony, Ardese showed the audience the back of his cranial flight helmet, which reads “T.C.B.”, a slogan which Ardese bases his command strategy on.
“The ‘T’ stands for take care of your Marines. Also take care of their families, and always put their welfare before that of yourself. The ‘C’ stands for combat, because in the end the Marine Corps is about combat. And the ‘B’ stands for be ready. The next war is not scheduled. You never know when you will be called upon.”
| Date Taken: | 06.15.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2013 12:13 |
| Story ID: | 108779 |
| Location: | FORTH WORTH, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 989 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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