432nd Wing gets prestigious new name

[unhappycamper]

432nd Wing gets prestigious new name
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jun 16, 2008 6:53:37 EDT

What’s in a name? A lot if you’re an airman with the newly designated 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing.

Adding “air expeditionary” to the 432nd Wing’s official name means putting unmanned aerial vehicle operators on equal footing with their manned brethren in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Air Combat Command announced last month the 432nd Wing will now be an air expeditionary wing directly under the 9th Air Force/U.S. Air Forces Central and the 12th Air Force/U.S. Air Forces Southern.

Now the 432nd commander, Col. Chris Chambliss, reports directly to AFCENT commander Lt. Gen. Gary North, who is running operations in the war zones.

Before, Chambliss’ expeditionary squadron commanders from the 15th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, the 42nd Expeditionary Attack Squadron and the four National Guard units — responsible for flying the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper UAVs in Iraq and Afghanistan from Creech Air Force Base, Nev. — reported directly to North.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/06/airforce_432nd_expeditionary_061608w/