New commander assumes responsibility of 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell

Col. Albert Miller became the new commander of McConnell Air Force Base’s 22nd Air Refueling Wing at a change of command ceremony Thursday afternoon.

“To the men and women of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, your reputation is absolutely phenomenal,” Miller told an assembled crowd of about a thousand Air Force personnel. “I’m honored to stand here today as your commander. Not ‘the’ commander, but your commander.”

Miller inherited the post from Col. Joel Jackson, who had been the wing commander since May 2013. Jackson has been transferred to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif., where he will serve as the 60th Air Mobility Wing Commander.

Lt. Gen. Carlton Everhart, who serves as commander of the 18th Air Force, was the presiding officer for the ceremony. During the ceremony, Jackson passed the ceremonial guidon to Miller.

“I’m like a new parent — I would not be comfortable giving this flag to just anyone,” Jackson said. “But Col. Miller is the right person at the right time for this job. He’s one of the few people I feel comfortable giving this flag to.”

Under Jackson’s command, McConnell secured 36 new KC-46A refueling tankers, scheduled to arrive starting in early 2016. The tankers will eventually replace the base’s current KC-135 tankers, which are at least 50 years old.

McConnell received Air Mobility Command’s nomination for the Commander-in-Chief’s Installation Excellence Award in 2013. Jackson also oversaw $266.8 million in construction to prepare for receiving the new KC-46A tankers.

“Twenty-one months ago I said that there was no place I would rather be at this point in our Air Force history, and I was right," Jackson said. "It has been a true honor and a time we will never forget.”

Everhart said Miller is “the ideal choice to lead this wing and its important worldwide mission.”

“He knows the tanker business,” he said. “He understands the work you put in every day to support our nation and the world. As this wing moves forward with preparation for the KC-46A, he’s the right leader at the right time at the right place.”

Miller kept his remarks short, mostly thanking family members and expressing hope for the future of the base.

“I pledge to do my very best to ensure you have the resources and training to accomplish your mission, the development, so you can advance and take on even greater responsibilities in your careers, and the support for your families so you can flourish and serve,” Miller said.

McConnell Air Force Base houses Air Mobility Command’s 22nd Air Refueling Wing, Air Force Reserve Command’s 931st Air Refueling Group and the Kansas Air National Guard’s 184th Intelligence Wing.

It is the world’s largest KC-135 base, according to a news release from the base.

This story was originally published February 12, 2015 at 4:57 PM with the headline "New commander assumes responsibility of 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell."