117th Air Control Squadron Receives New Commander

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Charles Delano
  • 165th Airlift Wing
Savannah, Ga. --  The 117th Air Control Squadron participated in a tradition that predates the Norman conquest of England. The change of command ceremony held at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga. symbolized the formal change of leadership from Lt. Col. Victor M. Long to Lt. Col. Ronald N. Speir, Jr. through the passing of the guidon. Maj. Gen. Thomas Moore,
Georgia Air National Guard Commander presided over the ceremony as Long relinquished command and Speir assumed command of the geographically separated unit.

Long gave one final salute to the Airmen in which he once commanded then recapped the accomplishments of the unit beginning with the operations with NORAD during September 11, 2001 and culminating with the homeland air defense during the Democratic National Convention. "To the excellent men and women of the 117th Air Control Squadron, job well done. You are extraordinary", Long said. "I leave this unit in good hands with an extremely capable leader."

Speir thanked Long for his excellent leadership then challenged the Airmen to, not only uphold the Air Force Core Values of Integrity, Service before Self, and Excellence in all we do, but to take responsibility in every task. "I was glad to get that guidon in my hands and accept the challenge", speir said. Beginning November, he will lead the unit on a six month deployment to Southwest Asia.