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Commanders assume leadership of two McGuire wings

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Paula A. Paige
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center public affairs
McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  In an assumption of command ceremony highlighted by the consolidation of McGuire Air Force Base, Fort Dix and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, Col. Gina Grosso became commander of the newly established 87th Air Base Wing and Col. Scott Smith took the reins of leadership of the 305th Air Mobility Wing here March 3.

The former director of the Air Force Colonels Management Office at the Pentagon, Colonel Grosso's 87th ABW will provide installation support to more than 40 mission commanders at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst -- the Department of Defense's first joint base consolidating Air Force, Army and Navy installations.

Colonel Smith, the former vice commander of the 305th AMW, now takes the lead for the wing that generates, mobilizes and deploys C-17 and KC-10 aircraft to conduct strategic airlift and air refueling missions. Colonel Smith replaces Col. Balan Ayyar, who is headed to Hickam AFB, Hawaii, where he'll become executive officer to the Pacific Air Forces commander.

Noting that her family has historic ties to the region, Colonel Grosso said she was thrilled and honored to be the first commander of the Air Force's newest air base wing and first joint base command.

"My father served in the Army Air Corps during World War II," she said during the assumption of command ceremony. "And much like today, he went through Fort Dix when he was mobilized after the war.  I am sure he never conceived of having a child who would one day be a part of the tremendous Fort Dix mission, and in particular a daughter."

In a speech marked by nods to the historical might of U.S. military aviation, Colonel Smith promised that the reorganized 305th AMW would continue to pursue excellence.
"From our simplest to most complex task we will find no rival in our disciplined adherence to procedure nor will we be surpassed in our relentless and unforgiving elimination of mediocrity," he said.

"While we diligently sustain a mission focus, we will develop as Airmen," the colonel said. "Whether you are in your first or your last year of service; whether you wear the uniform or join the line as an Air Force civilian, we will carry forward the obligation and the calling to nurture the growth and education of Airmen -- each of us beginning with the one in the mirror."

The establishment of the new 87th ABW is the first of three important milestones for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The joint base initiative is a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, which identified several military facilities that could be combined to streamline operational efficiency and save taxpayers' money.

The 87th ABW includes the 87th Mission Support Group and 87th Medical Group. The 305th AMW comprises the 305th Operations Group and 305th Maintenance Group.

Colonel Grosso had high hopes for the future of the 87th ABW.

"Years from now," she said, "the historians will say that it was you, the initial 87th Air Base Wing cadre, who took the joint base concept from an idea to reality in ways that far exceeded the expectations of the committee that established the 12 joint bases."