Photo By Senior Airman Hannah Bean | Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force commander, left, and Col....... read more read more
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Col. Andrew L. Roddan, 374th Airlift Wing incoming commander, formally assumed command of the 374th AW from the outgoing commander, Col. Andrew Campbell, during the 374th AW Change of Command Ceremony June 23.
Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, U.S. Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony.
"Thanks to all of you who have joined us for this very special occasion – it is an honor for Charlotte and I to be here," said Gen. Rupp. "It is amazing how much you have accomplished. The successes of this wing is a very long list: the largest U.S.-Japan airborne operation in history; Friendship Festival and the community relationships that it fostered; the upgrade to airfield operations; and the tireless work by medics, maintainers, operators and mission support that increased our readiness and our credible deterrence. It would not be possible without your hard work these last couple of years."
As he relinquished command, Campbell took a moment to thank the members of Yokota and to look forward to the future.
“It has simply been an honor of a lifetime to serve in command of the 374th Airlift Wing, in the incredible community we share here at Yokota,” Campbell said. “I leave here extremely proud of your dedication to our mission within the wing and across all team Yokota. Whether it is standing guard in the cold and rain, or cheering Air Force One as it touches down during our Friendship Festival your professionalism and enthusiasm is absolutely unmatched. Remember going forward that the peace and stability that we protect, doesn’t come from being timid. Freedom, your freedom and our freedom together, comes from being bold. Continue the airlift boldly.”
Prior to this assignment, Roddan was the Commander, 19th Operations Group, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. There he was responsible for four squadrons projecting agile combat airlift through two airlift squadrons operating 29 C-130J aircraft, executing Mobility Air Forces-wide joint training and exercises. He was also responsible for operating the Little Rock AFB airfield and operations support functions to enable Air Mobility Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and U.S. Weapons School missions across the base.
Roddan took a moment to speak to the men and women of Yokota as he assumed the mantle of commander.
“Today I stand here because of others who have taken the time to guide me, teach me, support me and prepare me for this job,” Roddan said. “Those I’ve worked for, those I’ve worked with, those I’ve had the fortune to lead and those outside the military who equally invested in me, to the ones able to view online and those unable to join us, you all raised me to be the person I am. I thank each of you and know your efforts are reason I am here today.”
| Date Taken: | 06.23.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 06.27.2022 22:08 |
| Story ID: | 423573 |
| Location: | YOKOTA AIR BASE, TOKYO, JP |
| Web Views: | 178 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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