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Team McGuire welcomes new commander

Maj. Gen. James Hawkins, 18th Air Force commander, passes the wing flag to Col. Balan Ayyar, the new 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, at a change-of-command ceremony here Oct. 2. Colonel Ayyar comes to McGuire from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., where he was the vice commander of the 319th Air Refueling Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kenn Mann)

Team McGuire welcomes new commander

Published Oct. 2, 2007
By Airman 1st Class Rebekah Phy
305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- Col. Balan Ayyar assumed command of the 305th Air Mobility Wing during a change of command ceremony here Oct. 2.

Brig. Gen. Rick Martin, former 305 AMW commander, will become the deputy director, Operations and Logistics, United States Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany.

"I feel privileged to be here today," said Colonel Ayyar, who comes to McGuire from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., where he was the 319th Air Refueling Wing vice commander.

"As a total force, no other installation provides as much support to our president and combatant commanders as we do. I look forward, as the 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, to continuing the path General Martin set for this wing in the spirit of jointness, the spirit of service and the spirit of sacrifice. I hope you will see that continue during our time here at McGuire Air Force Base."

Colonel Ayyar is a command pilot with more than 3,500 hours in the T-37, T-38, C-141B, Kiran Mk IA and KC-135.

The presiding officer of the ceremony was Maj. Gen. James Hawkins, 18th Air Force commander.