MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- The 931st Operations Group stood up the first squadron in the Air Force dedicated to the KC-46A Pegasus in an official ceremony here, April 2.
The stand-up of the 924th Air Refueling Squadron included an assumption of command ceremony by incoming commander Lt. Col. Terry McGee, formerly of the 18th Air Refueling Squadron. McGee is the first commander of the 924th ARS since the unit was officially deactivated at Castle Air Force Base, California, in 1992.
Unlike its previous mission a Castle, which focused primarily on KC-135R Stratotankers, the 924th ARS at McConnell will focus solely on the KC-46. The stand-up of the 924th ARS is part of the 931st OG’s growth after being established as a group last year. The 931st OG commander, Col. Caroline Evernham, spoke at the ceremony about what led her to choose McGee for the job as the commander of the Air Force’s first KC-46 Squadron.
“Since the beginning, Lt. Col. McGee was concerned with how to take care of his people - the manning, training, pay and administration; I have been very impressed by his focus,” she said.
After unfurling the flag and assuming command of his new unit, McGee thanked his family and Evernham for selecting him for his new role in the future of worldwide aerial refueling. He also thanked the Airmen now under his command, expressing his excitement for the future of the unit, despite the long road ahead.
With its designation as a Wing last year, the 931st Air Refueling Wing is estimated to grow by more than 1,000 members to facilitate the incoming KC-46 fleet.