Photo By Staff Sgt. Jackie Sanders | Col. Scott Campbell, 451st Expeditionary Operations Group commander, speaks during his...... read more read more
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Airmen of the 451st Expeditionary Operations Group said goodbye to Col. Rick Gibney and welcomed their new commander, Col. Scott Campbell, at an assumption of command ceremony Sept. 9, 2013, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.
“It’s a great day for the United States Air Force, especially for the 451st as we celebrate the great effort that’s happened under Colonel Gibney and then as we pass the guidon, a very small token but a huge responsibility, to Col. Campbell,” said Brig. Gen. John Dolan, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing commander.
Campbell, the new commander, expressed his excitement for working with such a mission-focused team.
“I’ve been impressed with the focus I’ve seen and the great morale of our airmen and the contractors who work here,” he said. “Seeing such a diverse team working together to generate all the key capabilities that the wing provides the CFACC [Combined Forces Air Component Commander] is extremely encouraging to me.”
Dolan spoke about his previous work with Campbell at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., saying, “I know that he’s got an incredible breadth of knowledge in the close air support mission … I can think of no one better than Campbell for this mission.”
Campbell acknowledged the challenges of upcoming changes to the group but encouraged the Airmen to “keep that laser focus on the mission … and remember regardless of what the next few months or what the next year holds our fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines both inside the wire and out are depending on all of us to remain focused on our mission.”
Campbell, along with his wife Kim, is an A-10 pilot, and is coming from being a student at the National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
Campbell thanked Dolan for the privilege and honor to lead the Airmen of the 451st EOG and Gibney for his efforts as commander.
“I think everyone who’s been here under his command knows how fantastic a job he’s done,” Campbell said, whose family hails from Northville, N.Y., and Albany, N.Y. “Gibby, thanks for handing me a group that’s clearly very focused on the mission and one with a high morale. That’s an extremely tough combination to achieve and it’s certainly going to make my transition easier as a result, so I can’t thank you enough.”
During his three months as commander of the 451st EOG, Gibney oversaw more than 10,000 combat sorties, more than 125 weapons dropped on his watch and 330 tons of short term cargo during 29 air drops.
“Gibney set the group for success as we’ve gone more than halfway through this fighting season,” Dolan said. “It was our honor and good fortune that we had Gibney to hold the reins of the operations group -- well done my friend.”
| Date Taken: | 09.09.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.15.2013 08:55 |
| Story ID: | 113666 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | ALBANY, NEW YORK, US |
| Hometown: | NORTHVILLE, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 382 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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