BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Bagram airmen welcomed a new group to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing during an assumption of command ceremony here, Nov. 14, 2012.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Guastella, 455th AEW commander, presided over the ceremony, passing the guidon of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Group to its first commander, Col. Brian Greenroad.
"This is a great ceremony because we do not have to say good-bye to one of our commanders, but welcome him as the first group commander of the newly formed 455 ESFG," said Guastella. Greenroad previously served as the commander of the wing's 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group.
The stand-up of the 455 ESFG also included the activation of the 755th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and the re-designation of the 455 ESFS under the newly formed group.
"Establishing the 455th ESFG and the 755 ESFS was required to support the increased mission scope, battle space ownership and to create the appropriate command structure to further our combined operations with our Afghan and coalition partners in defense of Bagram Air Field," said Lt. Col. John Grimm, 455 ESFG deputy commander.
The 755 ESFS, under the leadership of Maj. James Meier, partners with elements of the U.S. Army, coalition and Afghan National Security Forces to ensure airfield safety through active host nation engagement and security operations outside the wire throughout the 220 mile base security zone.
Led by Lt. Col. Thomas Sherman is also a combined force with U.S. Army, Republic of Korea and contract security forces responsible for pedestrian and vehicular entry control, perimeter security and internal security. The new group also includes a newly established Joint Intelligence Fusion Center, responsible for coordinating and synchronizing air and ground intelligence assets, creating a synergistic effort with direct operational effects on the battlefield.
Under Greenroad's command, the 455 ESFG and its nearly 1,200 members will be responsible for the security of more than 35,000 base personnel and over $3.5 billion in strategic combat and logistics assets, providing a safe operating environment for the Department of Defense's busiest combat airfield.
Activation of the group also marks a historic event in Air Force history, as the first ESFG in Afghanistan and marks the first Air Force command as a ground battlespace owner, a role traditionally held by the Army.
"To the men and women of the 455th ESFG and Task Force 455, I am honored to be your first commander," said Greenroad. "And I look forward to getting after it!"