JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Brig. Gen. Marc Sasseville assumed command of the 113th D.C. Air National Guard wing from Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Johnson during a change of command ceremony Aug.11, 2012.
Under General Johnson's command, the 113th Wing received many awards and accolades, to include the Air Force Meritorious Award; Distinguished Air Force Flying Unit Award; and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The wing also received the National Guard Association of the United States Spaatz Trophy and passed numerous wing inspections, to include a Unit Compliance Inspection and Logistics Compliance Assessment Program for both Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command, and a Health Services Inspection.
General Johnson is a decorated F-16 pilot with more than 3,000 hours of flying time. Although General Johnson will miss being wing commander, he will always be a part of the D.C. Air National Guard family.
"I will continue to watch over you, cheer for you, and be proud to have been part of your ranks for over 29 years," said General Johnson.
Assuming command of the 113th is Brig. Gen. Marc Sasseville. Maj. Gen. Errol Schwartz, Commanding General, D.C. National Guard, is proud of the work of General Johnson and looks forward to the outstanding leadership General Sasseville brings to the table.
"As I look at the credentials required to run this wing, General Sasseville has all of the credentials and more," said General Schwartz.
General Sasseville career is filled with many accomplishments, including serving previously as the 113th Wing vice commander and as an F-16 pilot protecting the nation's capital while the U.S. was attacked on Sept. 11. General Sasseville was ordered to strike down the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 from hitting a target in the nation's capital. However, he did not have missiles or ammunition, so he decided to take the plane out by striking the cockpit with his own jet. Unbeknownst to General Sasseville, Flight 93 had already crashed in a Pennsylvania field and he did not have to strike down the aircraft. However, General Sasseville was prepared to answer his nation's call to protect his fellow countrymen.
Graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in International Affairs, General Sasseville served on Active Duty until 1999 when he enlisted into the District of Columbia Air National Guard as a traditional Guardsman as Chief of Weapons. He deployed to Iraq as commander of 410th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron in 2003. Before his current position he worked in the Pentagon as deputy director of readiness.
General Sasseville is excited at the challenges ahead, to include an Operational Readiness Inspection, and he believes the future is bright for the 113th Wing.
"Together we're going to remain proven, vigilant, and ready on our quest for greatness," said General Sasseville.