JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
With a brisk salute and four words, "Sir, I assume command," Col. Casey D. Eaton took command of the 89th Airlift Wing from Col. John C. Millard in a ceremony here June 17, 2016.
Eaton joins the home of Air Force One, known as Special Air Mission Foreign team, or simply SAM Fox, after serving as the commander of the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
Eaton, a command pilot with more than 3,600 hours on T-37, T-38, KC-10, C-21, C-17 and KC-135 aircraft, will command a combat-ready force of more than 1,100 personnel and provide SAM airlift and support to the president, vice president, cabinet members, combatant commanders and other senior military and elected leaders, supporting White House, Air Force chief of staff and Air Mobility Command taskings.
It takes a special Airman to command SAM Fox and for Eaton, it's the next logical step in his already illustrious career. Prior to commanding the 515th AMOW, Eaton was the deputy chief of staff at headquarters NORAD-USNORTHCOM, was a research fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has held various operational positions, including C-17 squadron commander, deputy operations group commander, vice wing commander and wing commander.
"Every single one of you is here for a reason, because you're incredible Airmen. You don't just move people and stuff, you give the President of the United States options," said Eaton to the formations of Airmen before him. "Everything this wing does is woven into the fabric of America and of its history."
Safe, comfortable, reliable, connected and protected are the measures of 89th AW success, and Eaton lauded the wing for the perfection as the standard they already set, adding, "I'm humbled to be here commanding you."
Lt. Gen. Samuel D. Cox, 18th Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony, and presented Millard a Legion of Merit Medal.
Millard commanded the 89th AW since Aug. 14, 2014.
Spelling another chapter of SAM Fox history in the making, Cox shared the confidence the Air Force has in Eaton.
"By assuming command, I'm charging [Eaton] with carrying the torch in a wing with a renowned legacy of excellence. His expertise make him the clear choice to command this crucial mission." said Cox.