Command changes hands with ceremony

Courtesy Photo | Col. Paul Curlett takes the reigns of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing from Col. Timothy Hale with Kuwaiti officials, Coalition forces and Airmen from the wing in attendance.  

KUWAIT

07.11.2006

Courtesy Story

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

By Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen
386th AEW/PA

Leadership of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing officially changed hands during a ceremony on an Air Force base in Kuwait July 4 inside the passenger terminal.

Col. Paul Curlett took the reigns from Col. Timothy Hale with Kuwaiti officials, Coalition forces and Airmen from the wing in attendance.

"I'm so very humbled to be given this calling and I'm excited about the opportunities and challenges that are ahead of me," Curlett said. "I'm absolutely thrilled to be part of this team."

The 386th is the primary aerial hub for Operation Iraqi Freedom and provides airlift support for Operation Enduring Freedom and the Horn of Africa. It is composed of more than 3,400 Airmen from the National Guard, Air Force Reserve and active duty.

Curlett comes to the wing from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., where he was the special assistant to the commander of the 437th Wing. He is a command pilot with more than 4,500 hours flown and has served for nearly 30 years.

"I'm so thankful that you could all be here on this special day " our independence day," he said. "To our host nation and Coalition forces, I look forward to working with all of you."

Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony and said he is pleased to have Curlett on board.

"We couldn't be happier to have you here," North said. "He's led in the [area of responsibility] before, he's at home here and no one is more qualified and capable to lead this wing."

North also thanked the outgoing commander for his dedication to the wing during his yearlong tour.

"Col. Hale has been a fabulous commander for us," he said. "The four AEF rotations that have served him, have consistently stepped up and the wing airlift mission has been a key enabler for combatant commanders."

Hale leaves the wing and is headed for the U.S. Special Operations Command, where he will be the chief of the Global Synchronization Division for J-35.

"This is a bittersweet day for me," he said. "I'm leaving the finest group of Airmen in the AOR. When I arrived here I asked you all to give me 110 percent and you gave me 150 percent."

The former commander also thanked the host nation and Coalition forces because he said he wouldn't have been able to do his job without their support and help.

"Thank you so much for being here and helping us accomplish the mission," Colonel Hale said. "The Coalition is forged in friendship and this (base) is the gateway to freedom. It is an example for so many others in the region to follow."

• Date Taken: 07.11.2006
• Date Posted: 07.11.2006 13:24
• Story ID: 7118
• Location: KW