Colonel Cherrey takes command

Col. John Cherrey (right) renders a salute to Lt. Gen. Glenn Spears, the Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) commander, immediately after assuming command of the 355th Fighter Wing during a military ceremony here June 28. Colonel Cherrey comes to D-M after a yearlong tour as commander of the 451st Expeditionary Operations Group at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jerilyn Quintanilla)

Colonel Cherrey takes command

Published June 30, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Jake Richmond
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Col. John A. Cherrey took command of the 355th Fighter Wing in a military ceremony here June 28, 2010.

Lt. Gen. Glenn Spears, the Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) commander, presided over the ceremony. The symbolic moment occurred when General Spears took the wing guidon from previous commander Brig. Gen. Paul T. Johnson and handed it to Colonel Cherrey.

"It's not hard to see why the mission of the 355th is so important to our nation at this time in its history," Colonel Cherrey said. "This is a team sport. We'll be a team that relies on professionalism. I look forward to working with all of you."

General Johnson began his tenure as commander in July 2008, and he was promoted to brigadier general in August 2009.

Addressing the men and women of the 355th Fighter Wing during the ceremony, General Johnson shared his thanks and perspective.

"As the great philosopher John Wayne once said, 'If it was easy, anybody could do it.' Trust me, you are not just anybody. It has been my indescribable honor to be counted as your leader and to serve with you."