Fairchild welcomes Col. McDaniel as new commander

In front of hundreds of airmen, family, friends and dignitaries, Col. Brian Newberry, commander of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, handed a flag to Lt. Gen. Carlton D. Everhart II before saying, "I relinquish command."

Col. Charles B. McDaniel stepped forward and took the flag from Gen. Everhart.

"Sir, I accept command," he said.

Newberry relinquished command of the wing over to McDaniel during a change-of-command ceremony, July 25, at Fairchild Air Force Base.

Gen. Everhart, commander, 18th Air Force, Scott Air Force Base Ill., who also presided over the ceremony, praised Col. Newberry and the 92nd for their contributions to the Air Force.

"Without a doubt, our trust in you (Newberry) was well deserved and the 92nd has truly earned respect and admiration," Gen. Everhart said.

Prior to relinquishing his command, Col. Newberry received the Legion of Merit and gave a speech where he thanked family for their unwavering support and bid farewell to his airmen. Newberry was also confident that Col. McDaniel would continue to add to the legacy of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing.

"Having spent the last 24 hours with you, I know the wing is in good hands," Col. Newberry said.

Prior to taking command at Fairchild, Col. McDaniel was the vice commander of the 18th Wing - the largest combat wing in the U.S. Air Force - in Kadena Air Base, Japan. Col. McDaniel graduated from University of Tennessee in 1991 and received his pilot's wings at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma in 1993.

Col. McDaniel previously came to Fairchild early in his military career, training at the base's survival school.

Gen. Everhart said Col. McDaniel comes into the position "well-qualified with the developmental experiences needed to excel at this level."

"Col. McDaniel has the leadership, command, experienced, development and support of his family to be the very best commanding officer we could select to lead this air refueling wing," Everhart said.

After he accepted command, McDaniel commended Newberry's dedication to the wing. He said is excited to work with both wings at Fairchild and the surrounding communities.

"The 92nd Air Refueling Wing has a great reputation in Air Mobility Command around the world," McDaniel said. "This did not happen by chance. It happened because of the hard work and dedication that each and every one of you have shown. It is the same hard work and dedication that I will give you to ensure we accomplish our assigned missions and you have everything you need to succeed."

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.