Photo By Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys | Members of the Joint Base Andrews Honor Guard prepare for the 89th Airlift Wing...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- Col. Rebecca Sonkiss assumed command of the 89th Airlift Wing from Col. Casey Eaton during a change of command ceremony June 15.
Sonkiss’ new role solidified as she received the wing guidon from Lt. Gen. GI Tuck, 18th Air Force commander, who presided over the ceremony.
Tuck praised Eaton for a job well done as Eaton completed two years as the 89th AW commander.
The general expressed his confidence in Sonkiss as she takes the helm.
“Col. Sonkiss has earned her spot here. Everything that she has done has led her here,” said Tuck. “She has the technical skills and promise to be the commander of this wing. I personally pulled her from her last assignment early to have her here.”
Sonkiss is a command pilot with more than 4,200 hours in the T-37B, T-44, EC-130/H, RQ-1A/B, C-130J and C-17 aircraft. She has 24 years of active-duty service and arrived at JBA from Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Wash. where she was the 62nd Airlift Wing commander.
As she joins the home of Air Force One, known as Special Air Mission Foreign team, or SAM Fox she will lead an air expeditionary combat-ready force of more than 1,100 personnel.
Sonkiss will guide Airmen who provide global SAM airlift, logistics, aerial port and communications for the president, vice president and cabinet members. Those Airmen also provide the same support to combatant commanders and other senior military and elected leaders as tasked by the White House, Air Force chief of staff and Air Mobility Command.
In addition, she commands a wing responsible for maintaining 24/7 alert missions and operating the Executive Airlift Training Center and Government Network Operation Center.
With her family in attendance, Sonkiss took the podium and charged the wing’s Airmen with continuing a legacy of greatness for a team with a unique and intricate mission.
“I could not be more impressed with such a high-speed group of Airmen,” said Sonkiss. “Our nation depends on this wing and each of you are the ones making the mission happen. My job is to continue to empower each of you and remove any road blocks that might be in the way.”
Final salutes were rendered and applause filled the venue as Sonkiss exited the stage to shake hands with Airmen and begin work in her new position.
| Date Taken: | 06.15.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.18.2018 10:22 |
| Story ID: | 281324 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 1,985 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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