Ostrat assumes operations group command

Published Jan. 24, 2013
By Shawn J. Jones
514th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Lt. Col. Ken Ostrat took the guidon for the 514th Operations Group from Col. Michael Underkofler, 514th Air Mobility Wing commander, Jan. 12, 2013, here at an assumption-of-command ceremony at the community center.

Ostrat recently served as the 908th Operations Group director of operations at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

"It's going to be great to work with Ken again," Underkoffler said in an article by Tech. Sgt. Jay Ponder, 908th Airlift Wing public affairs. "With his tactical and operations experience, he's going to add to the overall mission."

Ostrat said he looks forward to the new experiences of living in the Northeast and working with KC-10 Extenders and C-17 Globemaster IIIs.

"There will be a different airframe, though I love the C-130, and the tactical airlift mission, something new and different is always fun," he said, "My family has never lived in that part of the U.S. before, so it will be an opportunity to show the kids new things."