459 OG gets new leadership

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amber Russell
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  The 459th Operations Group held a change of command ceremony in the 459th Air Refueling Wing auditorium, Feb. 22.

Lt. Col. Michael Moeding, takes the reigns as the new 459th OG commander.  He established himself in various leadership roles in aviation prior to his assignment here; most recently as the 931st deputy commander of operations, McConnell Air Force Base, KS. As a command pilot, Moeding has yielded approximately 5,000 flight hours on various aircraft included the KC-135R/T. He is a combat veteran of military operations, including: Southern Watch, Northern Watch and Desert Strike.

During the ceremony he said the unit is running so effectively now, it would be difficult to make operations run smoother than it already is.

"My goal is to take this unit where Col. [Brian S.] Davis left it and find a way to make it even better," Moeding stated. "That is going to be a tough challenge, because they have been busy working hard these last two years. My focus is to get back to the basics and concentrate on unit morale. I will look for initiatives inside or outside of the unit for ways to foster the reserve family attitude in order to have a cohesive, effective operations group (that is) excited to serve here."

Moedings' wife Allison, their children, Audrey, Grace and Ethan, and his parents attended the ceremony.

The departing commander, Davis, will take the experience he gained during his stay with the 459 ARW, and career as a whole, to the 507th Air Refueling Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla., as the wing commander.