33rd OG CoC
Navy Capt. Michael Saunders prepares to slice the celebration cake after taking command of the 33rd Operations Group March 31. Shortly before he partook in his service’s tradition, he witnessed an Air Force tradition for the first time - Captain Saunders name was placed on the cockpit side of an F-16 by a maintainer from Luke AFB, Ariz. The Navy officer was the first senior leader to arrive at the wing when it transitioned in 2009 from an operational F-15 combat unit to DoD’s Joint Strike Fighter training wing. As the former 33rd OG vice commander, Capt. Saunders stepped up to replace Air Force Col. Jim Ravella in leading the group that is solely responsible for creating the first F-35 pilot training program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chrissy Cuttita)