MSG, MDG commanders pass the reigns

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class James Bolinger
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Dover bid farewell to two group commanders during change of command ceremonies here recently.

Col. Robert King, 436th Mission Support Group commander, relinquished command to Col. Vic Sowers at the Air Mobility Command Museum July 14. Colonel King and his wife, Ruth, are heading to Iowa State University. Colonel King will command the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps detachment there.

"I want to take just a minute to address the men and women of the Mission Support Group … You all have exceeded my every expectation; you faced constant daily challenges that came at you from every corner and met them with grace and a can-do attitude that never failed," said Colonel King. "Thank you for all you have done for this group, the wing and the Air Force."

Col. Darnell Waun, 436th Medical Group commander, relinquished command to Col. Tim Pendergrass at The Landings Club Monday. Colonel Waun and his wife, Jolene, are retiring to San Antonio, Texas.

Col. Sam Cox, 436th Airlift Wing commander, was the officiating officer for both ceremonies. He received the guidons from the outgoing colonels and placed them into the hands of the new group commanders. "The beauty of our Air Force system is the knowledge that there is an amazing pool of talent that is at the ready and simply waiting for an opportunity to step up to the plate," said Colonel Cox.

Colonel Sowers has held a multitude of positions in his more that 30-year career with the Air Force. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1976 and received his commission to second lieutenant in 1983. He has most recently commanded the 437th Mission Support Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. in 2000, then continued on as the deputy commander of the 437th Mission Support Group, and finally in 2004, he became the chief, Mission Support Branch, Directorate of Personnel, Headquarters Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, Va.

Colonel Sowers has a bachelor's degree in Business administration and management from the Mary Baldwin College, Va., a Master of Organizational Management degree from the University of Phoenix, Ariz., and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.

Col. Sowers is the recipient of a Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters and an Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster.

"To the men and women of the Mission Support Group, you are good at what you do," said Colonel Sowers, before receiving his first salute from the 436th MSG. "You have heard the accolades - the accomplishments. You're good - my goal is to help us get even better. We will take the foundation Colonel King has laid and improve upon it. I'll give you resources that you need; the tools to make you better. I will help you grow professionally and personally. I'll help take care of your families, and take care of each other. We will work on our quality of life, and as Colonel Cox said, we'll have as much fun as we possibly can."

During the 436th MDG ceremony Colonel Pendergrass received the guidon from Colonel Cox and awaited his first salute from the group.

Colonel Pendergrass most recent assignments were as the chief of medical staff, 92nd Medical Group, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., in 1998 and deputy commander, 52nd Medical Group, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, in 2002.

Colonel Pendergrass is a senior flight surgeon and has a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado, Colo., and a Doctorate of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.

Colonel Pendergrass is the recipient of a Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, an Aerial Achievement Medal, a Joint Services Achievement Medal and an Air Force Commendation Medal.

"We will always stand ready to provide the absolutely highest quality healthcare to our warfighters whenever and wherever our Nation calls upon us," said Colonel Pendergrass. "At the same time, we can never forget our responsibilities to their families and our honored veterans who have preceded us."