512TH AIRLIFT WING CHANGE OF COMMAND

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DE, UNITED STATES

06.10.2017

Story by Capt. Bernie Kale  

512th Airlift Wing

Peters replaces Col. D. Scott Durham, who bids farewell to the Liberty Wing to take a position as the commander of the 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts.

Maj. Gen. Randall A. Ogden, 4th Air Force commander, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., was the officiating officer for the change of command and spoke directly to the Citizen Airmen in attendance.

“You keep the faith. You great Airmen do that every day. When our nation calls, you fight the good fight,” Ogden said. “Day to day you maintain your readiness and you run a race at a pretty incredible pace. But most of all, you keep the faith. With your family, your fellow Airmen, and with a very grateful nation.”

Hundreds of Dover dignitaries and Airmen aligned in formation joined Peter’s family in witnessing him receive the wing’s guidon. The military tradition of passing the organizational flag symbolizes the passing of responsibility and authority to the new commander, a gesture which historically aided troops in knowing who to dedicate their loyalty and trust.

“Everyone in this room has a choice to be here. You can’t be forced to be here, as Citizen Airmen you have a choice,” Peters said. “And I’m proud to the fact that you have chosen to be here this morning, to be part of this organization and part of our national defense.”

Peters is a command pilot with more than 7,300 flight hours, including over 290 combat hours. He now has charge of a 1,700-person organization, which supports Air Mobility Command’s worldwide airlift mission, operating C-5 and C-17 aircraft.

• Date Taken: 06.10.2017
• Date Posted: 06.10.2017 14:22
• Story ID: 237208
• Location: DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DE, US
• Hometown: BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, CA, US
• Hometown: MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CA, US
• Hometown: WESTOVER AIR FORCE BASE, MA, US