RAF MILDENHALL, England - Lt. Col. Richard Greszler, Jr., took command of the 352nd Special Operations Support Squadron during a ceremony officiated by Col. Christopher Ireland, 352nd Special Operations Group commander, at RAF Mildenhall, England June 13, 2013.
The squadron, nicknamed the Black Knights, provides in-garrison support and deployed battle staff functions for the 352nd SOG, supporting two flying squadrons, one special tactics squadron, and one maintenance squadron.
“I am humbled to lead one of the most unique squadrons in the Air Force,” said Greszler. “This squadron owns command and control, intelligence, current operations, aerial delivery, contingency and exercise plans, aircrew training, aircrew flight equipment, security forces, weather, logistics, communications, medical, and survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE).
“This entire collection of different Air Force Specialty Codes (jobs) comes together to form one team whose sole purpose is to effectively provide any expeditionary support necessary to put special operations combat air power in play to do our nation’s bidding,” he added.
Greszler hails from Lorain, Ohio, and is married to the former Laurel Tommas of Huron, Ohio. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1986. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 1993, earning his commission through the Academy of Military Science. He holds the rating of a master navigator and has flown 2,100 hours in several variations of C-130s. Prior to assuming his current position, Greszler acted as the 352nd SOSS director of operations.
Though he recently took command of the 352nd SOSS, Greszler believes he knows the way forward for the squadron.
“The Black Knights will remain poised and ready to support any
contingency or operation that the 352nd SOG is tasked to execute,” Greszler said. “Our mission focus remains fixed on ensuring our capabilities are at the ready 24/7/365.”
The 352nd SOG is the air component for special operations within the U.S. European Command. Under the operational control of the Commander, Special Operations Command Europe, the group plans and executes general war and contingency operations using CV-22 Osprey, MC-130J Commando II, MC-130H Combat Talon II and MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft.