Photo By Lt.Cmdr. Jim Remington | The U.S. Air Force Band and Honor Guard perform during the Joint Base...... read more read more
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Air Force Col. Kendall D. Peters relieved Col. Michael E. Saunders as commander, Air Force Element, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), during a change of command Tuesday.
Saunders assumed command of JBAB’s Air Force Element in June 2012. During his tenure, he ensured resourcing and support across a broad range of functional areas including personnel support, security and emergency services, facilities management and transportation, training, finance, morale, welfare and recreational support. He also served as an advocate for Air Force interests at the joint base.
Air Force District of Washington Vice Commander, Col. Chris B. Patterson, presided over the ceremony on the Air Force Ceremonial Lawn, which transferred the reigns of responsibility and leadership from
Saunders to Peters.
Patterson highlighted a number of Saunders’ achievements for his role in eliminating waste, surviving a government shutdown and the civilian furlough, and ensuring the provision of crucial base services in the wake of various contingencies including Hurricane Sandy, the tragic shooting on the nearby Washington Navy Yard, the polar vortex, and two separate fires in base housing.
Saunders thanked Navy Capt. Anthony T. Calandra and Capt. Frank Mays, respectively the former and current Joint Base Commander.
“Each of them has afforded me the opportunity to serve side-byside as a peer commander and not simply as their deputy commander,” said Saunders. “You have given me the freedom to serve in the best way that I can and I thank you so much for that.”
Patterson welcomed Peters and congratulated him on his selection and looked to his future in it.
“I have no idea what the next two years will bring, but you and your family are about to embark on a great journey. And there is no doubt that you are up to the task,” said Patterson.
In 2013 Col. Peters graduated from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. He recently returned from Afghanistan where he played a key role in building the Afghan Air Force from the ground up, proving success in the most complex of environments.
Through a long line of demanding joint positions, he earned experience in mobility and training while demonstrating consistently high marks by comparison to his peers. And now as the Air Force Element commander, he returns to the place where his career began, the former Bolling Air Force Base (now JBAB), one of twelve joint U.S. bases across the world.
“Throughout your career it has been evident that you have the experience and the tools to be successful in this unique opportunity, consistently earning number one stratifications and advancing through a long line of demanding joint positions. Experience in mobility, training commands, Europe and Southwest Asia to include deployed locations, your career has come full-circle as you arrive back to where it all began right here at Bolling. Enjoy the next two years in command of the Air Force Element and working with our joint partners as the deputy commander of the premier joint base,” Patterson told Peters, while ceremony guests listened.
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2014 13:47 |
| Story ID: | 143626 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 157 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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