Wing gets new commander, re-designates name

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 15th Wing
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii --  What was labeled a "family tradition," the 15th Wing welcomed its new commander, Col. Sam Barrett, during a change-of-command ceremony officiated by Lt. Gen. Hawk Carlisle, 13th Air Force commander, May 18 in the shadow of Freedom Tower.

Colonel Barrett, a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, assumed the reins of command as a new wing commander from Col. Giovanni Tuck. Also during the ceremony, the 15th Airlift Wing colors were retired and the 15th Wing colors were unfurled again in preparation of the arrival of the F-22 Raptor and the KC-135 Stratotanker mission to the wing.

"To command an Air Force combat wing, is certainly the high honor in my life," Barrett said. "To do so in an organization that is already a part of my family, heart and soul is a dream come true."

Colonel Barrett, a command pilot with more than 4,200 flight hours, has spent the past year as vice commander of the wing, getting to know the people and mission. General Carlisle said choosing Colonel Barrett to lead the 15th Wing was one of the easiest decisions he has ever made as a commander. He is confident that Colonel Barrett is prepared for the challenges ahead, a preparation that began in his early life with his father, Col. (Ret.) Sam Barrett, also being a wing commander.

"Sam, I know that you didn't just learn from the Air Force how to command," General Carlisle said speaking directly to the new wing commander. "You had a tremendous role model during your formative years moving to each new assignment. Retired Colonel and Mrs. Barrett, you set the tone and prepared Sam to be here today as he and Kelly followed exactly in your footsteps and take command of a wing...it is now a family tradition of being wing commanders as Barretts."

Under his command, Colonel Barrett looks forward to continued success. He acknowledged the men and women in his new command and commended them for never faltering through the many challenges they have already faced together.

"This is a big, tough command job," said Col. (Ret.) Sam Barrett, the new wing commander's father. "It's a big job. It's a whole lot worse that what I had. So much going on and it's only going to get bigger."

The wing will grow larger throughout the summer months with the arrival of two new weapon systems. Colonel Barrett looks forward to the Hawaii Air National Guard partnership of the 15th Wing and the 154th Wing as the F-22 and the KC-135 missions are added to the arsenal of C-17s at Hickam. The 15th Airlift Wing re-designation to the 15th Wing reflects the growth of the mission. The 15th Wing will activate an active duty F-22 squadron and KC-135 squadron. These two new weapons systems will be employed and maintained under a total force partnership with the Hawaii Air National Guard, similar to the C-17 weapons system. The main difference is the State of Hawaii will own the F-22s and the active duty force will add four KC-135s to complement the HIANGs current fleet of KC-135 aircraft.

"We are family already," he said. "Our success is literally bounded by our partnership. I'm confident that together we will continue to succeed."

The newest wing commander said the word family, or ohana, is the "most important word in his vocabulary." Colonel Barrett, his sisters and now his children have all grown up on Air Force bases. He said they understand the sacrifices of Air Force families from more than one perspective. The Barrett's are an Air Force family, with a little shade of green.

"You stand on hallowed ground, ground where American blood was shed," Colonel Barrett said. "Never, never forget what you do each and every day enables the freedom and security of over 300 million Americans, and many millions more around the world. It is because of you that the American dream is alive and well. Make no mistake you are America's heroes."