SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The 916th Air Refueling Wing welcomed its new wing commander, Col. Randall Ogden, during the May unit training assembly. Col. Fritz Linsenmeyer passed leadership of the wing to Colonel Ogden at a change of command ceremony held May 1. Maj. Gen. Eric Crabtree, Fourth Air Force commander, presided over the event which was held in the wing's new corrosion control hangar.
Challenges and coming together to face those challenges were a recurring theme of the ceremony.
"Colonel Linsenmeyer came in here at a time of great challenge - the inspections, the deployments, the standing up of a new unit," said General Crabtree. "When he took over, he stepped up and did all of the right things. The support you all gave him to face these challenges is what has made this a great organization."
Colonel Linsenmeyer, who said that coming to Seymour was his "dream job," received the Legion of Merit during the ceremony. He stated that the medal belonged to the men and women of the 916th ARW as well.
"Without your efforts, I wouldn't be up here and we wouldn't be as successful as we are today," he said.
Colonel Ogden also recognized the level of support behind a 916th wing commander. "I've never seen such a great relationship between Reserve, active duty, and the community as there is at Seymour Johnson," he said.
General Crabtree said that Colonel Ogden comes to the 916th ARW with a tremendous background and experience in the tanker business, most recently as operations group commander for the 434th ARW at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind.
Helping the 916th continue to rise to the challenge is Colonel Ogden's goal. "I have the privilege of taking over the greatest air refueling wing in the United States Air Force," he said. "I will try to find ways to take off some the burden so you can continue to do the great work you do."
With upcoming inspections and deployments, Colonel Ogden acknowledged that the operations tempo will be tough. "We have a lot on our plate. It's going to be tough to keep a good attitude, but I ask that you do just that and expect that you'll do that." he said, "I'm confident that you will continue to do great things."