910th gets new No. 1


By SEAN BARRON

news@vindy.com

VIENNA

From what Col. Stephen J. “Fritz” Linsenmeyer has heard, one of the many benefits of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station is its tremendous community support.

Linsenmeyer will be in a great position to test the veracity of what others have told him. He took charge of the 910th Airlift Wing during a 30-minute change-of-command welcoming ceremony Sunday at the station. The air base is home to the 910th.

“My main priority is to support the war fighters [in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere], whatever it takes,” he said after the event.

Another big goal is to get the base ready for an upcoming inspection, the new leader added.

Several hundred reservists and civilians attended the afternoon ceremony at which Linsenmeyer assumed charge of the 910th from Col. Udo Karl McGregor, who took an assignment March 27 as commander of the 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Force Base near Riverside, Calif.

Linsenmeyer said he is also planning to send 910th personnel on an Air Expedition Force mission this summer to Africa, in part because of an al-Qaida presence in Somalia. Other primary reasons for the trip are to move cargo and personnel for a new combat command (AFRICOM) and to build relations in some African countries, he explained.

During the ceremony, McGregor, who assumed command of the 910th Wing in July 2007, praised his fellow officers, reservists and maintenance staff, partly by extolling what he said is their “wonderful work ethic.”

Several humorous anecdotes peppered McGregor’s comments as he also expressed his appreciation for his nearly three years of service at the station.

“This is a great wing,” he said. “You’ve got a culture of excellence that carries you through.”

Also offering remarks was Maj. Gen. James T. Rubeor, commander of the 22nd Air Force, Air Force Reserve, at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Ga.

In addition to celebrating the command change, it’s important that attendees also remember “the tens of thousands of military personnel defending our liberties” in Iraq and Afghanistan, Rubeor said.

Linsenmeyer told the audience he also wants to make the 910th better and have everyone continuing to work together.

Officiating the change of command was Maj. Brent Davis. The event also included a presentation of colors and an awards presentation.

One of Linsenmeyer‘s ties to Ohio includes attending John Carroll University in Cleveland, where he received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1981. After the event, the new commander said he was “glad to be back in the Buckeye State.”

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