Beckley takes command of 49th APF Published Oct. 15, 2017 By Staff Sgt. Jami Lancette 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Deeply rooted in military tradition since the middle ages, change of command ceremonies afford serve members the opportunity to witness the symbolic passing of the torch in the presence of friends, family members and fellow Airmen.And keeping true to that tradition, Maj. Christopher Beckley, 49th Aerial Port Flight commander accepted the guidon and command of the 49th APF during a change of command ceremony here Sept. 23.“He’s the guy for the job,” said Col. Scott Russell, 434th Mission Support Group commander. “Our discussions about what he wants to do with the unit and where he’s going with it makes me very pleased that he accepted the responsibility of commander,” said Russell.Beckley took the role just as Maj. Timothy Kerrigan, 434th Civil Engineer Squadron commander takes on another big role.“Thank you Colonel Shaw for the opportunity to command this unit and thank you to Major Kerrigan for his mentorship and leadership for the last 11 months since coming here,” said Beckley. “I sincerely couldn’t have learned from a finer commander.”Following in Kerrigan’s footsteps, Beckley plans to keep moving the 49th APF along and in the same direction as before.“My priority is to take the unit in the same direction as Major Kerrigan,” said Beckley. “I want to focus on readiness; we’re going to deploy sooner or later so we need to be fully ready when that time comes.”Beckley entered the Air Force in 2000 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History. He later went on to earn a Master of Arts in Management and Master of Science in Logistics Management.In support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Beckley has deployed as the chief of supply for the 451st Air Expeditionary Group. He also served as flight commander for the 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron and 606th Air Control Squadron.“Major Beckley has experience at the unit level and experience at the command level,” said Russell. “Airman are very happy with what he is already doing here.”During his change of command, Beckley had high remarks for reservists and what they do too.“There is a lot of talent in the Air Force Reserve, I worked with reservists when I was deployed on active duty,” said Beckley. “They showed a lot of talent and experience and brought with them a wealth of knowledge beyond their Air Force job.”“Reservists typically have a wide spectrum of knowledge that they bring to the Air Force and I thank them for that,” he added.The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
