GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- The 49th Aerial Port Squadron recently welcomed a new operations officer to their ranks.
Capt. Shane Paul Kennedy will be overseeing the day-to-day operations for the squadron.
Kennedy, a native of Greensburg, Indiana, brings 19 years of experience after serving as an enlisted member in the Army and Air National Guard and as an officer in the Navy Reserve.
“Serving in the different branches, I’ve learned how to speak the different languages,” said Kennedy. “Each branch has its own acronyms; they do things a little bit different. All three branches in their own right have prepared me for this opportunity.”
Kennedy draws from his enlisted experience when making decisions as an officer and while running his family’s trucking company.
“Based on my short time here, it’s clear that the 49th has experienced and is experiencing significant growth,” Kennedy said. “With this growth comes more opportunities for leadership, more opportunities for worldwide support and responsibility for the careers of our Airmen.”
Kennedy’s goal for the 49th is to consistently evolve with the mission in correlation with the growth of the unit, which recently grew from a flight to a squadron.
The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. The Citizen Airmen from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.
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