Schwartz to command 434th ARW Published June 5, 2014 By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- The Air Force Reserve has selected a former Grissom aviator to return to the north-central Indiana base and command its largest aerial refueling unit. Col. Douglas Schwartz, who previously served as the 927th Air Refueling Wing commander at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, will assume command of the 434th Air Refueling Wing during a ceremony here June 8. "It will be good to return back home again to Indiana," said Schwartz. "No matter where I've been, I've always been impressed by the job the men and women of the 434th ARW do every single day, and it will be great to work alongside them once again." Schwartz received his commission through the Air Force Officer Training School in 1981 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and management from Purdue University, Indiana. Shortly after, he entered pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., and was assigned as a B-52 Stratofortress pilot to the 325th Bombardment Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. Schwartz first joined the Grissom team in 1992 when he transferred to the Air Force Reserve, flying KC-135R Stratotankers with the 72nd Air Refueling Squadron, one of two flying squadrons under the 434th ARW. Since transferring to the reserve, the colonel has held numerous command and leadership assignments including aircraft commander, chief of standardization and evaluation, flight commander, detachment commander, group commander, director of staff and wing commander. He is a command pilot with more than 4,200 hours and has deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and others around the globe. The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Airmen and aircraft from the 434th ARW routinely deploy around the globe in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
