NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada -- Familiar hands take the helm of the 926th Wing during a change of command ceremony Aug. 4, 2019 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in the Lightning hangar.
Former 84th Test and Evaluation Squadron commander, Col. Sean Carpenter, became the new commander of the wing when he accepted the guidon from Maj. Gen. Brian Borgen, 10th Air Force commander.
“It wasn’t too long ago that I stood as 84th Test and Evaluation Squadron commander, so this feels like home for me and my family in some sense,” said Carpenter, who served as the 84th commander from 2013-2015.
Located at Nellis, the 926th is an associate unit to the United States Air Force Warfare Center. Through TFI, it provides combat-ready reservists to the center as sustained expertise integrated at the operational and tactical levels of warfare. The wing also supports the U.S. Air Force’s first Remotely Piloted Aircraft wing, the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech AFB, Nevada.
“Lt. Gen. Scobee has said our greatest challenge is strategic competition from revisionist powers and that we require bold leadership at every level to succeed,” said Carpenter to the 926th Reserve Citizen Airmen. “But, the 926th is uniquely positioned to capitalize on our strengths in combat, operations, space, test, and high-end training to support the National Defense Strategy.”
Before accepting the guidon, Carpenter served as the 419th Operations Group commander. Carpenter led the group since 2018 and teamed with the 388th Operations Group commander to oversee the first F-35 deployment to the Middle East.
Carpenter succeeds Col. Michael Schultz as commander. Schultz will become the next wing commander of the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri.
Carpenter ended his speech by saying, “I work for you and I am humbled as well as proud to do it.”