EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The 96th Civil Engineer Group welcomed its new commander, Col. Michelle Sterling, during an assumption of command ceremony July 18.
Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro, 96th Test Wing commander, passed the 96th CEG guidon to Sterling, representing the start of her command.
“I’m positive that her leadership values of character, competence, community will serve this team well,” said Massaro. “Michelle, you’re taking the reins of this highly regarded dynamic organization. Your background and your values already show the 96th CEG is in good hands. I look forward to the future of the 96th CEG under your leadership.”
Sterling thanked her friends and family both in the crowd and watching virtually. Then, she expressed her excitement and passion at being the 96th CEG’s new commander.
“My promise to the 96th CEG is that we will have hard days, but we will show up together and we will share the load," she said. "I know that if we do that we can move mountains, because you have already in this very short time showed me how capable you are in getting the mission done showing up for one another, I look forward to joining this team and getting to know you all better as we carry on the mission of the 96th Test Wing.”
The 96th CEG manages more than 3,000 facilities, 1,200 miles of roads, 465,000 acres of land, and the U.S. Air Force’s largest Fire Protection Program.