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Devil Raiders welcome new commander

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Dustin T. Doyle
  • 621st Contingency Response Wing public affairs chief
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  The 621st Contingency Response Wing Devil Raiders welcomed a new commander Aug. 22 in a change of command at McGuire's Global Reach Deployment Center. 

Col. Steven Bernard, the outgoing 621st CRW commander, handed the reins over to Col. Brian O'Connor in a ceremony attended by Airmen, Soldiers and senior leaders from McGuire AFB and Fort Dix. 

"There is no greater honor for an officer than to be a wing commander," said Colonel Bernard. 

"It's been my honor to be the commander of a unit that is this fantastic." 

Under Colonel Bernard's leadership, the wing received "Excellent" ratings on their first Operational Readiness Inspection and Logistics Standardization and Evaluation Program Inspection, certifying the CRW as fully operationally capable. 

In his two years as 621st commander, Colonel Bernard tackled the number one initiative of Gen. Norton Schwartz, former commander of U.S. Transportation Command and current Air Force Chief of Staff, in the formation of Joint Task Force - Port Opening. With JTF-PO fully operational, a team from the 621st deployed to Cypress in 2006, to help avert a crisis in Lebanon. The operation resulted in the evacuation of 12,000 American citizens: the largest State Department non-combatant evacuation since Vietnam. 

Col. Timothy Zadalis, 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force commander, presided over the event and praised Colonel Bernard for his efforts in paving the way for Colonel O'Connor.

"The true measure of a leader is not only how they lead their unit from day to day, but also how they prepare their unit for when they walk away," said Colonel Zadalis. 

With the change of command, Colonel O'Connor steps in as the 621st CRW's third commander. 

In his previous assignment, Colonel O'Connor served as vice commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia. The colonel is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours in the T-37 Tweet, T-38 Talon, C-130 Hercules and C-17A Globemaster III. He has served as an operational and formal training school instructor and examiner pilot in both the C-130 and C-17. 

"Command is a privilege, and I will not let the 621st down," said the colonel in his first formal address to the wing. 

The colonel also emphasized his intent to remain mission-focused and laid out his expectation for the wing. 

"Devil Raiders, I expect you to continue to uphold your reputation as the premier contingency experts in Air Mobility Command," said Colonel O'Connor. 

"Know your stuff, get out in front and deliver." 

The 621st CRW is one of two specialized wings in the Air Force. Responsible for training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields in remote locations, the 621st CRW extends Air Mobility Command's ability to deploy people and equipment around the globe.