News>Larson assumes command of McConnell Reserve group
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Maj. Gen. Mark A. Kyle, 4th Air Force, Air Force Reserve commander, passes the 931st Air Refueling Group flag to Col. Mark S. Larson, 931st ARG commander, during a change of command ceremony August 4, 2012, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jose L. Leon)
Colonel Mark S. Larson, 931st Air Refueling Group commander, salutes Maj. Gen. Mark A. Kyle, Commander, 4th Air Force, during a change of command ceremony at McConnell AFB, Aug. 4. Larson assumed command from outgoing commander, Col. William H. Mason. Larson Is the tenth commander of the 931st since the unit’s reactivation at McConnell in 1995. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Carrie M. Peasinger)
The McConnell Air Force Base Honor Guard presents the colors while Tech. Sgt. Schavonne M. Wilson, noncommissioned officer in charge, 931st Air Refueling Group chaplain's office, sings the National Anthem at the 931st Air Refueling Group change of command ceremony at McConnell Aug. 4, 2012. Col. Mark S. Larson assumed command, replacing outgoing commander, Col. William H. Mason. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Carrie M. Peasinger)
Maj. Gen. Mark A. Kyle, Commander, 4th Air Force, stands at attention with Chief Master Sgt. Kathleen E. Lowman, 931st acting group superintendent, Col. William H. Mason, 931st outgoing commander, and Col. Mark S. Larson, 931st incoming commander, during the 931st Air Refueling Group change of command ceremony at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Aug. 4, 2012. Larson is the 10th commander of the 931st since the unit’s reactivation at McConnell in 1995. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Carrie M. Peasinger)
Col. Mark S. Larson gives his first remarks as commander of the 931st Air Refueling Group during a change of command ceremony at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Aug. 4, 2012. Larson is the 10th commander of the 931st since the unit’s reactivation at McConnell in 1995. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Carrie M. Peasinger)
by 1st Lt. Zach Anderson
931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs
8/4/2012 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Col. Mark S. Larson assumed command of the Air Force Reserve 931st Air Refueling Group in a ceremony held here today.
Larson replaced Col. William H. Mason, who has served as commander of the 931st since July 2011. Mason has been assigned to serve as commander of the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
Prior to taking over command of the 931st, Larson served as the deputy commander of the 452nd Operations Group, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
Maj. Gen. Mark A. Kyle, 4th Air Force commander, March ARB, officiated the ceremony.
"Today I'm replacing one superstar with another superstar," said Kyle. "The needs of 4th Air Force extend beyond McConnell, but they do not exclude McConnell. I need Col. Mason at Andrews, and there is not a more capable person to fill the role here at McConnell than Col. Larson. He is 100 percent committed to what needs to be done here."
As commander of the 931st Air Refueling Group, Larson oversees Kansas' only Air Force Reserve associate unit. More than 600 Citizen Airmen are assigned to the 931st.
The 931st Air Refueling Group works alongside the active-duty 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base in support of Air Mobility Command's worldwide air refueling mission to meet the needs of all U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine, and selected allied nations' aircraft.
