Lt. Col. Hollis takes command of the 434th OSS

Published Nov. 2, 2016
By Staff Sgt. Katrina Heikkinen
434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Deeply rooted in military tradition since the middle ages, change of command ceremonies afford service members the opportunity to witness the symbolic passing of the torch in the presence of friends, family members and fellow Airmen.

Keeping up with military traditional, Lt. Col. Todd Moody, 434th Operations Group commander and officiating officer, passed the guidon to Lt. Col. Brian Hollis as he accepted command of the 434th Operations Support Squadron during an assumption of command ceremony here Oct. 1.

“Thank you so much for this opportunity,” Hollis said. “I’m going to do my very best for you.”

Before Hollis joined the 434th Air Refueling Wing more than 20 years ago, he began his Air Force career in the Alaska Air National Guard where he commissioned and went on to complete pilot training. After returning to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, he flew the KC-135E and stratotanker.

Before taking command of the 434th OSS, Hollis has held numerous jobs within the 434th ARW, including tanker scheduler, nuclear plans officer, assistant chief pilot tactics officer, chief of mission development, chief of plans and director of operations.

“[Hollis] is one devoted individual,” Moody said. “He has been here longer than me and has done just about every job in the wing and has been behind the scenes doing fantastic work for us. OSS is in great hands and I’m really happy for [Hollis].”

Hollis’ varied jobs in conjunction with an operational perspective at the Hoosier Wing are the foundation for his vision as a commander.

“In order to get the mission done, it takes one thing – people,” Hollis added. “If I were to sum up how I will lead it’s that basis: taking care of people, who take care of our mission. The biggest thing that we need to do, and I’m going to overemphasize this over and over again because we can get caught up in the details, is to always keep focused on what our mission is here – to support the flying mission.”

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

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Lt. Col. Hollis takes command of the 434th OSS

Lt. Col. Hollis takes command of the 434th OSS

Public Affairs Staff