Olson assumes command of premiere tanker wing

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tara Fadenrecht
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Col. Albert Miller relinquished command of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing to Col. Joshua Olson during a change of command ceremony here July 18.

The transfer of the unit guidon symbolizes the transfer of authority from one commander to another. Lt. Gen. Giovanni Tuck, 18th Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony and addressed the significance of the transfer. He highlighted a quote Air Mobility Command commander Gen. Carlton Everhart mentioned when Tuck took the reins of 18th Air Force in June.

“Although the guidon is pretty light, it carries with it the burden and the weight of responsibility [and] accountability that transfers from one commander to the next,” said Tuck.

Miller leaves the 22nd ARW after more than two years leading the world’s largest and most diverse KC-135 Stratotanker wing. During his command, Team McConnell ensured critical acquisition and test milestones were met ahead of schedule, setting the path to extend the serviceability of the KC-135 fleet for an additional 25 years.

He thanked his team during the ceremony for making those achievements possible.

“To the men and women of the 22nd ARW— I am filled with pride for all you do every single day,” Miller said. “You make the extremely difficult look easy, and you do it with such style and grace. Make no doubt about it, you are the reason others acknowledge us as the best Air Force in the world. It is because of you, we can deliver air power to any point on the globe in mere hours, with either an open hand or a clenched fist.

I will always cherish my time here as your commander, and I’m very pleased the Air Force has chosen a great leader to take command today. Col. Olson is the right leader to take this wing to even greater heights.”

Olson, who has previously served as the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing vice commander in Southwest Asia, is a mobility aircraft pilot with more than 2,600 flight hours across five different airframes.

He accepted the responsibility of command as he received the guidon from Tuck.

“This is an incredible opportunity to continue to serve our Air Force here with Team McConnell,” said Olson. “I consider myself extremely blessed to stand before you today to take the guidon [for] such an esteemed Air Refueling Wing— I now humbly stand before you, a tanker pilot, ready to get to work.”