HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Lt. Gen. Loyd S. "Chip" Utterback, 13th Air Force commander, passes the 15th Airlift Wing Flag to Col. Giovanni Tuck, during a change of command ceremony June 20 at the Freedom Tower Mall. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tyler Hatfield)

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HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Col. Giovanni K. Tuck, 15th Airlift Wing commander, gives his first remarks to the men and women of the 15th Airlift Wing upon assuming command during here June 20 at the Freedom Tower Mall. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tyler Hatfield)

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HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Lt. Col. Michael McDaniel, 15th Mission Support Group commander, and Airmen from the group represent the 15th Airlift Wing in formation at the change of command ceremony. Formations of Airmen from the 15th Airlift Wing's medical, operations, maintenance and mission support groups represented Team Hickam at the change of command ceremony. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tyler Hatfield)

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HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Hickam Air Force Base Honor Guard stands at ease as they await the beginning of the change of command ceremony. The Honor Guard posted the colors for the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tyler Hatfield)

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HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Col. Giovanni K. Tuck takes the 15th Airlift Wing Flag from Lt. Gen. Lloyd S. "Chip" Utterback, 13th Air Force commander, during a change of command ceremony at the Freedom Tower Mall June 20. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Mark Bates)

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Tuck takes command of 15th Airlift Wing

Published June 20, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Erin Smith
15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Col. Giovanni K. Tuck took command of the 15th Airlift Wing during a Change of Command ceremony today at the Freedom Tower Mall. With the passing of the 15th Airlift Wing flag, Hickam's top leadership responsibilities were transferred from Col. JJ Torres to Colonel Tuck.

"To be selected as a wing commander is an extremely rare opportunity," said Colonel Tuck, a Hawaii native. "But to be selected as a commander in your home state, in your own back yard is truly special. [My wife] and I will take great care of the crown jewel of the Pacific here at Hickam Air Force Base."

Colonel Tuck, a command pilot with more than 4,800 hours in the KC-10, KC-135R/T and the C-17A aircraft, is coming to Hickam from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. where he served as the vice wing commander for the 60th Air Mobility Wing.

This background helped ready him for command of the 15th Airlift wing.

"He has a tremendous resume," said Lt. Gen. Loyd S. "Chip" Utterback, 13th Air Force commander, who presided over the ceremony. "He is a proven warrior with command, joint and operational experience as well as the energy, vision and ability to lead. We are proud to have [Col. Tuck] as part of our ohana and a leader of our Air Force family."