63rd Air Refueling Squadron Receives New Commander

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt Denise Hauser
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Lieutenant Colonel Hiram P. Gates III assumed command of the 63rd Air Refueling Squadron during an assumption of command ceremony here at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. on 11 July, 2009. The 63rd falls under the 927th Operations Group of the 927th Air Refueling Wing.

As commander of the 63rd, Gates ensures rapid global mobility for a full spectrum of operations by educating, training, equipping and deploying aircrew and support personnel. He enables global vigilance, reach, and power through employment of aircrews, operating 16 KC-135R/T aircraft, in air refueling, airlift and aeromedical evacuation missions to sustain America's expeditionary and joint war fighting capability.

Gates was formerly the commander of the 927th Operations Support Flight. He has a rating of command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours and has flown the T-37, T-38, T-3 and KC-135E/R/T.

During his remarks upon assumption of command Gates discussed the hard work of squadron members during the BRAC-directed move from Selfridge Air National Guard Base to MacDill, their efforts in the recent Aircrew Standardization/Evaluation Visit (ASEV) inspection, as well as preparations for upcoming AEF deployments. "You have done an outstanding job of standing up this squadron, and as the results of the ASEV prove, we are mission-ready more than a year ahead of schedule." Gates noted that because of the above-and-beyond contributions of unit members, the squadron can better focus on the bigger picture of its roll in the nation's security.