22ARW to gain new commander

Col. George N. Vogel, 22nd Air Refueling Wing, is scheduled to take command of the 22nd ARW from Col. Richard Tanner, 22nd ARW, during a change of command ceremony June 28.

The ceremony has been an Air Force tradition since the branch's establishment. The transfer of the unit guidon symbolizes the transfer of authority from the previous commander to the new commander.

Vogel is no stranger to the refueling mission of McConnell. From March 2002 to July 2005, he served in the 349th Air Refueling Squadron as a KC-135 Stratotanker instructor pilot, the chief of scheduling, and a squadron executive officer.

"It's great to be back," said Vogel. "Being able to return to McConnell Air Force Base and the Wichita area is a dream come true, and doing so as the commander of the 22nd ARW and the installation is almost surreal."

Vogel graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and was a Distinguished Graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. He has served in a variety of positions at the Squadron, Wing, and Office of the Secretary of Defense, Congressional, Combatant Command, and Headquarters Air Force levels, and been stationed at several bases, including Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.; Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.; Altus Air Force Base, Okla.; Pentagon, Arlington, VA. Washington D.C.; Dover Air Force Base. Del.; Bagram, Afghanistan Air Base; Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.; and Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Vogel is a command pilot with more than 3,800 flying hours on various aircraft, including the KC-135R/T/RT and the C-17A Globemaster. Vogel's previous assignment was as the 18th Wing vice commander at Kadena Air Base, Japan, he will be rejoining team McConnell.



"The men and women of McConnell have a phenomenal, well-earned reputation as leaders and innovators," said Vogel. "Thank you for being who you are, for all the work you have done in the past, and for all the work we will do in the future."

Tanner, the outgoing commander, is headed for Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, to become the Chief, Space & Integrated Air and Missile Defense Division for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.