Strasburger takes helms of 455 EOG

  • Published
  • By Capt. Toni Tones
  • 455 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan --  "Sir, I assume command." 

After uttering the four-word sentence every commander states, Col. Tim "Donk" Strasburger took the helm of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group during a change of command ceremony here June 21. 

Colonel Strasburger, an A-10 command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, accepted the group's guidon from Brig. Gen. Mike Holmes, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. In concert, he accepted responsibility for more than 700 personnel executing the following combat missions on behalf of the wing and Joint/Coalition forces: airdrop/airland, electronic combat, combat search and rescue/medevac, operations support/airfield management, aeromedical evacuation and close air support. 

"The operations group call sign is thunder, which signifies noise, both audible and electronic," said General Holmes. "It brings hope and support to the Afghan people through shows of force. It also brings fear and doom to the enemy through the same shows of force as well as CAS and electronic warfare. Thunder is always there and always ready; we can count on it to roll across Afghanistan. 

"Colonel Strasburger is the right guy for the job...he's a CAS expert and an A-10 pilot," added General Holmes. "He brings a tireless enthusiasm to every task and is excited about what he's doing. He's also setting the trend as the first one-year operations group commander." 

The colonel saluted former commander, Col. Art McGettrick for his service and sacrifice and thanked him for leaving him "the most lethal combat group in the U.S. Air Force."
He also thanked General Holmes for "entrusting me with this mission and our most precious asset--our magnificent Airmen." 

"Airmen of the EOG--we have a mission to accomplish. That mission is timely and accurate support to U.S. and coalition forces, to protect innocent civilians and killing our nation's enemies...everything else is secondary," said Colonel Strasburger. "And never forget, everything you do represents those you are sworn to defend--to your dying breath if necessary--the people of the Unites States of America." 

The group oversees the day-to-day operations of a C-130 airlift squadron, an HH-60 squadron, an aeromedical evacuation squadron, an F-15E fighter squadron and an A-10 fighter squadron. Additionally, the EOG maintains administrative control over an EC-130 electronic combat squadron and supports a U.S. Navy EA-6B electronic attack squadron. Through the Operations Support Squadron, the group also oversees a range of combat support functions at both Bagram and Kabul airfields including airfield management, air traffic control, intelligence and weather.