Changes of command in NJ, MO, Japan - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Changes of command in NJ, MO, Japan

Here are some of the most recent wing changes of commands, at bases in New Jersey, Missouri and Japan:

• Col. Paul R. Murphy is the new boss of the 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. He took over from Col. Scott F. Smith, who moved to U.S. Southern Command in Miami, Fla., as head of the commander’s action group. Murphy previously served as chief of the Programs Division for Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. He is a command pilot with more than 3,300 flying hours in KC-135 Stratotanker, T-37 Tweet, KC-10 Extender, and E-4B.

• Col. Chris Patterson assumed leadership at the 621st Contingency Response Wing on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., replacing Col. Brian O'Connor. In Patterson’s previous assignment, he served as commander of the 373rd Expeditionary Operations Group at Transit Center Manas in the Kyrgyz Republic. O’Connor’s next assignment is in Afghanistan as senior advisor to the first deputy minister of defense.

• Col. Michael D. Rothstein took command of the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan from Col. RC Craig. Rothstein, an F-16 pilot since 1990, arrived at the northern Japan base after serving as in Afghanistan as the chief of activities synchronization for the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command. Craig is headed to Air Combat Command headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Va., to serve as inspector general.

• Brig. Gen. Scott A. Vander Hamm is the new commander of the B-2 Spirit bomber fleet, taking command of the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. Vander Hamm was last assigned as the assistant deputy director for global operations on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon. Prior to joint position he was commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. Outgoing commander Brig. Gen. Robert Wheeler is headed to U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., as deputy director, nuclear operations.