53rd Wing salutes new commander

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 53rd Wing welcomed its new commander May 30 in a change of command ceremony before its personnel, family and friends.

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Lofgren, commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev., passed the wing guidon to Col. Alexus Grynkewich as the wing's new leader. The wing bid farewell to Col. David Hicks who is moving forward as deputy director of operations for North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.

A 1993 Air Force Academy graduate and a command pilot with more than 2,100 flight hours, Grynkewich is no stranger to the wing. He was chief of F-22A standardization and evaluation for the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group and director of operations for the 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis. Prior to arriving here, he served as the vice commander of the 57th Wing at Nellis.

"Words cannot express how excited I am to be serving with the Airmen of the 53rd Wing," Grynkewich said during the ceremony. "The mission of this wing in my opinion has really never been more important."

General Lofgren said the wing continues its legacy of operational test, tactics, and evaluation of weapons systems used by combat units. Approximately 2,200 people in 23 geographically separated units perform these tasks for the wing. Current wing initiatives include advanced self-protection systems for combat aircraft, aircrew life support systems, aerial reconnaissance improvements, new armament and weapons delivery systems, and improved maintenance equipment and logistics support. He lauded Hicks for ensuring his personnel are "unrivaled in today's fight."

"Your efforts continue to save lives daily," the general said.

Hicks acknowledged he didn't know the scope of what the wing accomplished or the impact of the work being done by its personnel until he took command, but added that "it was a huge privilege to see that no matter what the challenge, the wing's people would have ideas on how to get the mission done."

Grynkewich addressed the men and women of his wing, pledging a tireless effort to make sure they have the ability and resources to accomplish the mission. He highlighted three key focus areas: the integration of air, space and cyber power; efficiency and innovation and taking care of Airmen and their families and stressed the Air Force and the nation is "depending on us."

"I will put in a tireless effort to make sure you all have the ability and resources to accomplish that vital mission of making sure our military is ready for whatever comes our way: to fight anywhere in the world, anywhere across the spectrum of conflicts, against existing threats today and against emerging threats tomorrow," he said.