New commander for 53rd Wing

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 53rd Wing welcomed its new commander June 18 in a change of command ceremony here before its personnel, family and friends.

Maj. Gen. Jay Silveria, the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander, passed the wing guidon to Col. Adrian Spain as the wing's new leader. The wing bid farewell to Col. Alexus Grynkewich, who departs for a new position at the Pentagon.

The previous commandant of the Air Force Weapons School at Nellis, Spain is a command pilot with more than 2,000 flight hours.  Spain is new to the test world, but brings to the wing a background heavy in leadership and next-generation fighter aircraft.  He was the commander of the F-22A Raptor squadron, the 94th Fighter Squadron, in 2008.

When Silveria addressed the attendees, he applauded the work being done at the 53rd Wing and stressed the significance of its impact.

"Our Air Force, our sister services and our coalition partners rely upon our efforts in the 53rd Wing to make sure we have the most reliable, accurate, tested weapons systems and tactics for combat," said Silveria.  "It's your efforts every day that continue to save lives and continue to make us the Air Force we are today."

Grynkewich echoed the general's sentiments saying he couldn't take any credit for the wing's recent successes and accomplishments, but that it was the people who made it all possible.

"The past two years have truly been the honor and experience of a lifetime," he said.  "We leave this wing knowing it's in great hands and it makes it a lot easier to leave knowing Adrian is taking the reins."

After accepting the command, Spain addressed the wing as their new commander.

"We are literally the secret weapon in the Air Force's arsenal," he said. "By evaluating current systems, we provide confidence to our warfighters, planners and combat commanders."

"My promise to you is I will do everything I can to provide you with the resources and environment you need to continue to excel in this critical mission. It's my honor to serve with you and lean on each other to navigate the challenges ahead of us. You have my trust and it's my sincere hope along the way that I will earn yours."