News>440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron Changes Hands
Photos
The NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan's 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron holds its Change of Command ceremony at the Afghan Air Force base in Kabul on Jan 8.(U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Jared Walker/RELEASED)
The NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan's 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron holds its Change of Command ceremony at the Afghan Air Force base in Kabul on Jan 8.(U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Jared Walker/RELEASED)
The NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan's 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron holds its Change of Command ceremony at the Afghan Air Force base in Kabul on Jan 8.(U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Jared Walker/RELEASED)
The NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan's 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron holds its Change of Command ceremony at the Afghan Air Force base in Kabul on Jan 8.(U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Jared Walker/RELEASED)
The NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan's 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron holds its Change of Command ceremony at the Afghan Air Force base in Kabul on Jan 8.(U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Jared Walker/RELEASED)
by Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Petty Officer Jared E. Walker
438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
1/8/2011 - KABUL, Afghanistan -- The NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan's 440th Air Expeditionary changed command during a ceremony at the Afghan Air Force Base in Kabul Jan. 8, with Maj. Joseph Stangl assuming command from Lt. Col. Kimberly Tooman as commander of the squadron.
Lt. Col. Tooman commanded the largest NATC-A squadron, a unit comprised of 48 airmen, eight coalition nation's aviation advisor teams and 169 special contractors advising aircraft maintenance, logistics, resources management, fleet sustainment and air worthiness for 10 C-27s, six An-32/An-26s and 51 Mi-17/35s during her tenure. She was responsible for instituting, guiding and instructing maintenance and logistics strategic vision across three wings and five forward operating bases.
Given an opportunity to speak to her troops one final time, Tooman thanked everyone that she had an opportunity to work with during her time as the 440th AEAS commander. She gave special thanks to Col Abdul Shafi, the AAF Maintenance Group Commander, Tooman's counterpart in the AAF.
"I appreciate you welcoming me into your family, and I appreciate your friendship. Col. Shafi, I know you will continue to take the maintenance route to further heights this year. It was an honor to work with you, the best maintenance officer in the Afghan Air Force," she said.
Tooman also spoke of her admiration for the members of the 440th AEAS.
"To the men and woman of the 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, thank you for the hard work you displayed while I was the commander of this squadron. Leading this world class group of airmen has been the highlight of my 17 year career. Many times we have made the impossible possible and even made it look easy while doing it. You have made me proud to be your commander," she said.
Tooman said that she knew that the hard work that the members of the 440th AEAS and AAF have displayed will continue under Maj. Stangl's command.
Maj. Stangl most recently served as the Operations Officer, 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. While there, Stangl provided leadership, guidance and supervision for three aircraft maintenance organizations consisting of over 650 maintenance personnel and 83 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft valued at more than $971 million dollars.
Stangl said that now that he's in Afghanistan, he is anxious to begin working with those Coalition and Afghan Airmen Tooman spoke so highly of.
"I look forward to looking everyone in the eye, shaking their hand and doing what needs to be done to accomplish the mission. I appreciate everyone coming out for the ceremony. Thank you," said Stangl.
