Photo By Master Sgt. Benjamin Mota | Col. Larry Shaw, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander, addresses the Airmen he now...... read more read more
“Welcome back Larry Shaw and his family to the Grissom team,” Flournoy said, addressing Shaw, his family and Team Grissom. “Thank you for being here and taking this on as a team – because this is a team sport. And thank you for preparing for what is probably going to be one of the most challenging job of [your] professional life. I can’t thank you enough for what you’re doing today and what you’re going to do in the future for the men and women of the 434th ARW. You’ve come back home.”
Shaw, expressed his enthusiasm for his return assignment at Grissom and his first wing command position.
“Thank you for the opportunity to command the best wing in the Air Force,” Shaw said. “Kris and I are very excited to be back in in Big 10 country and especially Hoosier country. I am overwhelmed by all of the love and support.”
Long before taking the reins of the Hoosier Wing, Shaw began his [operational] Air Force career as a KC-135R navigator in the 920th Air Refueling Squadron at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, after earning a direction commission into the [active-duty] Air Force from the University of Nebraska in 1988.
After serving on active-duty for eight years, Shaw first joined the Hoosier Wing nearly 20 years ago as a young captain, where he went on to serve as an instructor/evaluator navigator and assistant chief navigator before changing seats in the cockpit and becoming a pilot.
While at Grissom, the Gothenburg, Nebraska, native found himself assigned to various positions as he moved up the ranks, eventually becoming the 434th Operations Support Squadron commander.
His career path changed in 2013 when he became the 927th Operations Group commander at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Following a short stint there, he became the Deputy Director of Air, Space and Information Operations at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia in 2015.
It was a who’s who of 434th ARW history at the change of command as former wing commanders and key staff members turned out to welcome Shaw into his new position.
“It’s because of [previous commanders’] dedication to this base and traditions that have been passed down to our Airmen why our wing continues to thrive,” he added.
Manned by nearly 1,900 military, civilian and contractor personnel and two flying squadrons, Shaw said he is honored to take command of the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command.
“When our nation called, the 434th [ARW] answers,” he continued. “Today is the beginning of a new day, a new month and a new chapter in this distinguished history of the 434th ARW. You have my promise that I will do my very best to lead this wing so when our nation calls, we will not fall.”
To learn more about Shaw, click here to view his biography.
The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.
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| Date Taken: | 07.09.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.10.2016 07:11 |
| Story ID: | 203514 |
| Location: | GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, IN, US |
| Hometown: | GOTHENBURG, NE, US |
| Hometown: | KOKOMO, IN, US |
| Hometown: | PERU, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 123 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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