52nd Fighter Wing Change of Command

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dawn M. Weber
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

A new commander took charge of the 52nd Fighter Wing during the wing change of command ceremony at Hangar 1 here August 29, 2017.

U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Bailey accepted responsibility of the 52nd FW in front of Airmen, local leaders and family. 

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, 3rd Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony in which Bailey, former 455th Expeditionary Operations Group, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, took charge of the wing formerly led by U.S. Air Force Col. Joseph McFall.

“We have managed to find another winner and a great combat leader to carry the wing’s tradition of perseverance and combat success forward,” Clark said. “Col. Jason “Hash” Bailey is the right man at the right time for this wing.”

Bailey inherits the wing as its 28th commander since its activation as the 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing in December 1971. He is also a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, including 600 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan in operations Allied Force, Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

“Saber Nation, your history is legendary,” Bailey said. “This wing, this nation, this saber nation provides a level of capability, a level of full spectrum air power that no other wing can claim. You are crucial, you matter to the Air Force, to the United States, to NATO and to the globe. My family is excited to be a part of this community. But there’s a lot to do, so let’s get cracking.”

As Saber Lead, Bailey now leads five groups, 23 squadrons and 11 geographically separated units spread across five countries, with approximately 5,000 dedicated military and civilian personnel.

The change of command is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit to a commanding officer.