Larson assumes command of McConnell Reserve group
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.
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.
