Buckley takes the Hoosier Wing reins Published June 1, 2012 By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- From ancient Roman battlefields to the modern era of stealth drones, military commanders have been the source around which troops have rallied and claimed ultimate victory. With such importance of knowing who a commander was and what he expected from his men, formal change of command ceremonies were born and became a necessity that allowed warriors to witness the peaceful transition from one leader to the next. In that same time-honored tradition Col. Donald Buckley took command of the 434th Air Refueling Wing in front of the Airmen he now commands during a special ceremony held here May 19. In his new role, Buckley commands the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command with over 1,900 military, civilian and contract personnel. This assignment is the first at Grissom for Buckley, but he said he's firmly aware of the 434th ARW's stellar reputation and commitment to excellence. "You have an outstanding reputation throughout the command," he said in his first formal address to Grissom's Airmen. "The second I drove onto this base, I was awed by your professionalism and your dedication, and we will continue that as we go through this together." Buckley, whose last assignment was as the 919th Operations Group commander at Duke Field, Fla., said his primary focus is mission accomplishment through empowering Grissom's Airmen to get the job done. "My promise to you is that I will take care of the people as you take care of the mission to meet the national security agenda of the United States of America," he said. "I'm here to serve you, to help you grow and to give you the tools that you need to accomplish the mission." Buckley received his commission in 1987 as a graduate from Texas Tech University and has served in numerous flying positions in airlift and special operations related assignments. A command pilot with more than 5,000 flight hours, the New York native has flown the T-37, T-38, C-130E, C-22B, C-18A, C-32A, MC-130E, WC-130J and C-130J aircraft deploying in support of Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Uphold Democracy, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Buckley replaced the now retired Col. William T. "Tim" Cahoon, who commanded the 434th ARW for two years. In his final address to the wing as commander, Cahoon said the last two years haven't always been easy, but they have been rewarding as the unit has accomplished much. "You have all contributed directly to the war effort, and that is what it is all about," he elaborated. "You have contributed to something bigger than yourselves, you have done something worthwhile, and you have done something that you will remember and be proud of for the rest of your lives. "What we do is hard, and I'm sure it will continue that way," continued Cahoon. "But, there are a lot of people who count on us, and you keep delivering -- Thank you, I'm proud of you, and you should be proud of yourselves." The former commander also said he was slightly jealous of Buckley as he now gets to command some of the Air Force's finest, but he's confident the 434th ARW's tradition of excellence will continue. "As you move on to serve under Colonel Buckley's command, I'm confident that you will continue to accomplish the mission and do the right thing in the right way," he said. "I know he will learn to trust you as I have, and that is the greatest compliment I can give." Both Buckley and Cahoon thanked their families for their support in their careers, to which they attributed their success. Specifically, Buckley thanked his wife Lauri and his two sons, Jake and Josh. Cahoon thanked his wife Vicki, but also wanted 434th ARW Airmen to thank their families on his behalf. "Please pass on my thanks to your families for the support they've given and the sacrifices they have made," said Cahoon. "None of us could do what we do without the support of our families." To learn more about Buckley, click here to view his biography. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
