Malloy to lead 434th Operations Group

Published Sept. 23, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Trading cowboy hats for stocking caps, one Air Force lieutenant colonel is heading from the Sooner State to the Hoosier State to take command of the 434th Operations Group.

The 434th Air Refueling Wing recently announced that Lt. Col. Gerard Malloy will take command of the 434th OG here this October.

In his new position, Malloy will be responsible commanding the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. As such, he will manage the day-to-day operations and training of two operational flying squadrons and an operations support squadron.

The New York native said it's been nearly 30 years since he had to deal with snow, but that hasn't dampened his enthusiasm about leading the Indiana unit.

"I'm really excited about joining and working with the folks of the 72nd, 74th Air Refueling Squadrons as well as the 434th Operations Support Squadron and Grissom's maintainers," said Malloy. "Their reputation precedes them."

Malloy, who is currently the 465th Air Refueling Squadron director of operations at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., has worked with 434th ARW Airmen at several times throughout his career, but most closely when deployed alongside them at Morón Air Base, Spain, in 2003.

"They're known as a very proven organization with great crews," he added. "From the planes I've flown on and borrowed, I can say they're second to none, and that reflects highly upon the people who work on them and the pride they show."

Malloy received his Air Force commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1989 after graduating with a Bachelor of Art degree in aviation management from Oklahoma State University.

He then entered navigator training at Mather Air Force Base, Calif., and was assigned to the 384th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan. The then captain transferred to the Air Force Reserve's 465th ARS in 1999, and attended pilot training at Vance AFB, Okla., the following year.

As a KC-135 pilot, Malloy has held several assignments to include instructor pilot, chief of wing plans, chief pilot, chief of mission development, chief of wing safety, director of operations and squadron commander.

The colonel is a senior pilot with more than 7,000 flying hours and has deployed in support of Operations Provide Comfort, Southern Watch, Deny Flight, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.

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Malloy to lead 434th Operations Group

Malloy to lead 434th Operations Group

Public Affairs Staff