GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- In a two-for one ceremony, Doug Perry officially pinned on colonel insignia, and then took command of the 434th Operations Group here March 6, 2022.
Colonel Perry had been the 434th Operations Support Squadron commander, and took over the helm of the 434th OG from a retiring Col. Brian Hollis.
Col. Thom Pemberton, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander presided over the ceremony held in Gus Grissom Hall.
“This is a pretty monumental occasion because statistics show only about two percent of officers in the Air Force achieve or earn the rank of colonel,” said Pemberton. “So let me turn that around Colonel Perry would be in the 98 to 99 percentile of officers in the Air Force. That’s what that means. That is a true monumental occasion.”
The events kicked off with Perry’s family pinning on his new insignia just prior to the assumption of command.
Aviators at Grissom, as well as friends and family bore witness to both events.
The transfer of the unit guidon is a long standing military tradition where those within the ranks witnessed the new leader accepting the position.
Perry ended the ceremony by thanking leadership for this opportunity, his family and those who helped him along the way.
“I’ve been entrusted by Col. Pemberton and the senior leadership and afforded this opportunity to take command of the group and take it to that next level. We are going to all move forward and take us to that that next level.”