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JB MDL community welcomes new base commander

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dennis L. Sloan
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs Office
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and local community leaders witnessed the joint base's first change of command ceremony here today.

Col. John M. Wood assumed command of the Department of Defense's only tri-service joint base from Brig. Gen. Gina M. Grosso.

In his new role, Wood provides installation support to more than 80 mission partners and is responsible for providing combatant commanders with mission-ready expeditionary Airmen and Sailors in support of joint and combined operations.

Officiating today's ceremony was U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Commander Brig. Gen. William Bender.

"General Grosso's time in command was a labor of love," said Bender. "Colonel Wood has a large mission ahead of himself, but I believe with his past accomplishments and determination he will continue the excellence in command that the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst military and civilian community has received with Grosso."

During the ceremony Grosso was awarded the Legion of Merit for her exceptional meritorious conduct, outstanding performance and service to the United States as commander of the 87th ABW and JB MDL from Feb. 8, 2009, to June 24, 2011.

"To all those who came to the Air Base Wing from the Army and Navy, your expertise was critical to the joint base standup," said Grosso. "I could not have been successful without all of the base leadership, military members, civilian personnel and community members. I know the base is in good hands with Colonel Wood as the new commander."

Seven flights consisting of 253 Servicemembers and civilians assigned to the 87th Air Base Wing paid their respects to Grosso by rendering a final salute. The formation then honored Wood by rendering him his first salute as the JB MDL commander.

"I look forward to commanding, but more importantly to serving alongside you," said Wood.

Wood, a California native, was the commander of the 437th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. prior to his assignment here. He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours in the T-38, C-130, KC-10 and C-17. Wood entered the Air Force in 1989 as a graduate of the University of California, Davis ROTC.

He has served in numerous positions to include the commander of the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in Southwest Asia and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellow and Senior Air and Space Advisor to the Secretary of Transportation.

During a previous assignment, Wood served as the 32nd Air Refueling Squadron commander at the joint base - which was then called McGuire Air Force Base.

"I'm happy to be back here in New Jersey where my wife and two sons feel at home," said Wood.

In attendance were various distinguished visitors to include: Maj. Gen. Razz Waff, 99th Regional Support Command commanding general, Maj. Gen. Maria Falca-Dodson, New Jersey Air National Guard commander, Honorable Robert J. Maguire, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army and numerous JB MDL leadership.

JB MDL is America's premier joint warfighting base and the installation is home to a variety of Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and state and federal missions.