Summer sees new leaders at 45th SW

Published June 14, 2007
By Eric Brian
45th SW Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 45th Space Wing will have a new look this summer.

Eight of the wing's senior leaders will be leaving and making way for fresh faces.

The wing's vice commander, Col. Thomas Bouthiller, retires today in a ceremony at The Tides at 3 p.m. Replacing him as vice commander is Col. Stephen Butler, who started Monday. A full story on Colonel Butler will be included in a later edition of Missileer.

Lt. Col. Michael Furey, 45th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, is going to Korea. He will turn over authority to Lt. Col. Andrew Lambert in a change of command ceremony scheduled for Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Jay Burks, commander of the 45th Medical Support Squadron has received a Senior Develop-mental Education Fellow-ship. Lt. Col. Blake Brewer will take over the squadron in a change of command planned for June 22.

The Wing will also this month receive a new chief of safety, Col. (select) James Riemens-Van Laare. Pete Taddie has served as acting chief of safety since Col. Dave Nuckles' retirement Jan. 1.

July will also see a trio of command changes.

The 45th Contracting Squadron will receive a new commander, Lt. Col. John Gilmour, in a change of command ceremony planned for July 2, as Col. John Miles retires.

Lt. Col. Jerald Narum will take command of the 45th Communications Squadron in a ceremony planned for July 9 as current Commander Lt. Col. James Clark leaves to continue serving the Air Force at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

The 45th Operations Group commander is changing bases as well. Col. David Thompson will command the Aerospace Data Facility, a tenant unit of the 460th Space Wing, at Buckley AFB, Colo. Col. Bernard Gruber will take his place in a change of command ceremony scheduled for July 13.

Lt. Col. Kevin Murphy, 45th Aeromedical Dental Squadron commander, will transfer to Air Education and Training Command headquarters at Randolph AFB, Texas. Lt. Col. Chung Siedlecki will assume command Aug. 10.

"We'll see a lot of new faces in the wing this summer," said Brig. Gen. Susan Helms, 45th SW commander. "I expect these new leaders to give us a good shot in the arm as we continue our mission to assure access to the high frontier and to support global operations."