NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. (Nov. 19, 2018) — Col. Gary Charlton II, the vice wing commander of the 107th Attack Wing, New York National Guard, took command of the wing during a ceremony held here on Nov. 17, 2018.
The change of command ceremony saw the outgoing commander, Col. Robert Kilgore, hand over the leadership of more than 700 Airmen after four years in command. Charlton joined the 107th ATKW in 2015 as commander of the 107th Operations Group after a career in the 174th Attack Wing, Syracuse.
“My family and I cannot be happier, and so humbled, to have been entrusted with this great honor and responsibility of being the 107th’s next wing commander,” said Charlton. “Following the footsteps of Col. Kilgore will be no small feat.”
Charlton joined the wing during a period of transition for the 107th ATKW. After flying the C-130 Hercules for several years, the wing began converting to the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft in 2014.
Under Col. Kilgore’s leadership, wisdom and vision, the 107th has returned to it’s beginnings, said Charlton. We are once again a combat unit, an attack wing, an operational ready reserve, engaging in daily combat operations while also building the 21st century Airman as we prepare to send our war fighters into harm’s way over the coming year, said Charlton.
The 107th ATKW was formed in 1942 and served in World War II as the 339th Fighter Group flying the P-51 Mustang. This began decades of the 107th making history with various fighter aircraft, until 1994 when their F-16 Fighting Falcons were turned in for KC-135R Stratotankers.
“Members of the 107th, your patriotism, volunteerism and dedication to something larger than yourself, is what empowers this wing to take the fight to the enemy,” said Charlton. “You make it happen.”