MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida -- Members of 927th Air Refueling Wing and civic leaders from throughout Tampa Bay, gathered as Col. Douglas Stouffer, 927 ARW commander, assumed command of the wing during an Assumption of Command ceremony held at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, March 4, 2018.
Air Force Maj. Gen Randall Ogden, 4th Air Force commander presided over the ceremony and shared his appreciation of the members of the 927th and thanked them for their dedication and sacrifices to complete the mission.
“You all are the backbone of this mission,” said Ogden. “Without your sacrifices, and dedication we wouldn’t be a successful unit. We understand that your dedication requires time away from families and your civilian jobs but we appreciate all that you do for the wing and for this grateful nation.”
The 927th Air Refueling Wing is one of more than 33 organizations that call MacDill Air Force Base home and serves as mission partners with the 6th Air Mobility Wing. The 927th is also home to two squadrons providing reserve specific missions at MacDill, the 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and the 927th Aeromedical Staging Squadron
Stouffer, a Pennsylvania State University graduate who earned his commission at the United States Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, comes to MacDill from Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, where he served as the commander of the 916th Operations Group.
Stouffer’s new duties will oversight of training, organizing, equipping and ensuring that approximately 1000 Reserve Citizen Airmen are prepared for deployment. Additionally, Stouffer will oversee the primary mission of the 927 flying the KC-135 Stratotanker whose capabilities consist of in-flight air refueling, cargo and passenger airlift, and aeromedical evacuation supporting contingencies and humanitarian operations around the world.
Taking the podium to officially address Airmen of the 927th for the first time, Stouffer expressed his excitement for taking on the job and his gratitude to the men and women of the 927th.
“Thank you for all you do for this wing and the Air Force,” said Stouffer. “I humbly accepted the position as wing commander and am honored to serve in that capacity.”