DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --
Col. Craig C. Peters assumed command of the 512th Airlift Wing in a ceremony today inside an aircraft hangar here.
The colonel’s previous assignment was at Beale Air Force Base, California, where he served as the wing commander for the 940th Air Refueling Wing, Air Force Reserve Command.
Peters replaces Col. D. Scott Durham, who bids farewell to the Liberty Wing to take a position as the commander of the 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts.
Maj. Gen. Randall A. Ogden, 4th Air Force commander, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., was the officiating officer for the change of command and spoke directly to the Citizen Airmen in attendance.
“You keep the faith. You great Airmen do that every day. When our nation calls, you fight the good fight,” Ogden said. “Day to day you maintain your readiness and you run a race at a pretty incredible pace. But most of all, you keep the faith. With your family, your fellow Airmen, and with a very grateful nation.”
Hundreds of Dover dignitaries and Airmen aligned in formation joined Peter’s family in witnessing him receive the wing’s guidon. The military tradition of passing the organizational flag symbolizes the passing of responsibility and authority to the new commander, a gesture which historically aided troops in knowing who to dedicate their loyalty and trust.
“Everyone in this room has a choice to be here. You can’t be forced to be here, as Citizen Airmen you have a choice,” Peters said. “And I’m proud to the fact that you have chosen to be here this morning, to be part of this organization and part of our national defense.”
Peters is a command pilot with more than 7,300 flight hours, including over 290 combat hours. He now has charge of a 1,700-person organization, which supports Air Mobility Command’s worldwide airlift mission, operating C-5 and C-17 aircraft.