PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Few military traditions capture both continuity and change as powerfully as the passing of the guidon. The guidon is a flag that displays the name of a unit and represents its heritage. During the change of command season, the simple act of this flag changing hands is repeated across the nation’s forces, each ceremony representing an ending, a beginning and a commitment to those who serve.
During a change of command ceremony, when guidons change hands, the outgoing commander first passes the unit's guidon to the presiding superior officer, which symbolizes relinquishment of command. The presiding superior officer then passes the flag to the incoming commander. This process marks the formal transfer of authority, responsibility and accountability for the unit.
This season, outgoing Space Launch Delta 45 unit commanders passed their guidons to U.S. Space Force Col. Brian Chatman, SLD 45 commander, who then presented them to the incoming commanders, marking the formal transfer of command in keeping with a centuries-old military tradition.
Chatman praised many of the outgoing commander’s excellence in their service to their unit and introduced the new commanders to SLD 45 Airmen and Guardians. The outgoing and incoming commanders also gave speeches of their own. Outgoing commanders reminisced and expressed gratitude to their teammates, and the new commanders outlined their vision for the unit, reaffirming their commitment to the Airmen, Guardians, civilians and mission partners responsible for delivering world-class launch operations along the Eastern Range.
While every ceremony followed the same traditions, each also reflected the unique mission and people of the unit involved. Several ceremonies stood out for milestones that extended beyond the routine transfer of command.
Among the many leadership transitions, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Chris Bulson relinquished duties as the SLD 45 installation support deputy commander to U.S. Air Force Col. Peter Choi. The deputy commander guides mission support efforts that enable operations, ensures the readiness of worldwide deployable expeditionary forces, and oversees comprehensive base support for SLD 45, its tenant units, and mission partners. The position is also responsible for maintaining an $8.8 billion infrastructure that supports more than 16,000 Total Force members and 125,000 retirees.
On Ascension Island, a new commander took the guidon as SLD 45 Detachment 2 continued its annual tradition of leadership transition. This year, SLD 45 DET 2 transferred command from U.S. Air Force Maj. Victor Guinn to U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Alvarez. This remote installation is located on an island in the Southern Atlantic Ocean about halfway between Africa and South America.
The season also marked a significant milestone for the U.S. Space Force with the reactivation of the 1st Space Launch Squadron. Reactivating the 1st SLS supports efforts to prepare the Eastern Range for operational growth while enhancing resiliency through the modernization of range and spaceport infrastructure. After being inactivated in 2009, the 1st SLS remained without a commander for 17 years until its reactivation in June 2026, when U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Montgomery ‘Blair’ Kirk assumed command, ushering in a new chapter as the unit resumed its mission to support the nation's access to space.
Collectively, the ceremonies highlighted both the accomplishments of outgoing commanders and the confidence placed in those assuming leadership. As SLD 45 continues to support an increasingly demanding launch cadence, the seamless transition of command across its organizations reinforces the Delta's commitment to mission success, operational excellence and the development of the Airmen and Guardians who execute the mission every day.
This Change of Command season served as a reminder that while commanders may change, the mission endures. Backed by dedicated families, teammates and mission partners, SLD 45 remains prepared to deliver combat-ready space launch capabilities in support of the nation and its allies.