New faces in Operations Group

  • Published
  • By Captain Matthew Mutti
  • 104th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The 104th Operations Group will be going through some changes, command changes that is. Lt. Col. Kenneth Lambrich will take command of the Operations Group from Col. Jon Mott during a ceremony on February 9th at 3:30 p.m. in the main hangar here.

This change is particularly meaningful in that Lt. Col. Lambrich will be the first pilot hired from the 102nd Fighter Wing to hold a command position in the 104th Fighter Wing. Col. Marcel Kerdavid, 104th Fighter Wing Commander said, "As a seasoned F-15 pilot with thousands of hours in peace and contingency operations Lt. Col. Lambrich is the perfect choice, bringing a wealth of experience to the Operations Group and the unit as we begin flying our new aircraft."

Following the change of command, Col. Jon Mott will transition to his new position working for the National Guard Bureau in Washington D.C. as the Director of Plans and Programs.

In addition to the Operations Group change of command, Lt. Col. James Keefe will be installed as the Vice Wing Commander, Lt. Col. Thomas Kelly will take over the reins of the 131st Fighter Squadron from Lt. Col. Keefe and Lt. Col. Emmanuel Saridakis will take command of the 104th Operations Support Flight from Lt. Col. Kelly.

"Change is inevitable", said Lt. Col. Keefe. "With careful planning and the right people in-place, transitions can be very smooth and for the good of the organization."

This command change is just the first of many parts of the wing's conversion to the new mission of homeland defense. Both personnel and infrastructure changes are on-going; all with one goal in mind says Col. Kerdavid, "To be the best F-15 unit in the Air National Guard".