Top cop takes over squadron

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 96th Security Forces Squadron welcomed its new commander in an assumption of command ceremony Sept. 23. 

Major Mark Foley arrived on station from the Security Forces Center at Lackland AFB, Texas, where he was the deputy chief of the Protection-Defense Branch. He now leads more than 450 personnel whose job it is to protect and defend more than 724 square miles of land that Eglin calls home. 

Col. Christopher Wheeler, 96th Mission Support Group commander, expressed his pleasure in officiating the ceremony. He singled out Lt. Col. John Ostrom, individual military augmentee, who took the command reins for several months prior to Major Foley's arrival and "moved the squadron forward as well as making sure the Defenders were taken care of." 

Colonel Wheeler highlighted the major's career, pointing out his year in Qatar and two deployments in Kuwait and Iraq. He said "Scott has the tools, knowledge, expertise for this job," all critical for a commander to be successful. 

"There is really a reason why command is such a special occasion and has such a special connotation," the colonel said. "Commanders are the leaders with the responsibility for the success or failure of a unit." 

After accepting the flag, Major Foley acknowledged assuming command is a special day and he was "honored and humbled." 

"Squadron command is the ultimate," he said. 

Major Foley then took a minute to address his squadron. He told them he followed their accomplishment very closely. 

" I am eager to begin to write new chapters in our squadron history," he said. "I'm ready to get to work, it's the Defender way."