45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Xavier Lockley
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, FLA --  The 927th Air Refueling Wing welcomed a new squadron commander during a change of command ceremony, June 6, here.

During the ceremony, command of the 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron was passed from Lt. Col. Deborah Grove to Lt. Col. James Palmisano.

The presiding official of the ceremony, Col. William Rolocut, 927th Operations Group commander, welcomed all in attendance before speaking about what it meant to serve with Grove.

"We are extremely pleased to have served with Lt. Col. Grove, as she has done an outstanding job leading the unit, said Rolocut. "She has shown outstanding leadership and we are going to miss that here at the 45 AES, "

The Colonel closed his speech by welcoming Palmisano, who comes to MacDill AFB from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, where he served as the 94th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron commander.

After Rolocuts' statements, --Grove who is currently assigned at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. as a medical advisor, addressed members of the wing for the final time and thanked the Airmen that served with her throughout her tenure.

"The accomplishments that we have had as a unit is not because of what I did, but what we all did together," said Grove. "When adversity came, we persevered through it, and I couldn't be more proud to have served with each and every one of you."

After Grove's speech, the two Lt. Colonels joined Rolocut center-stage for the official guidon passing, signaling the official start of Palmisano's command.
Palmisano who took over for Grove at Dobbins as commander of the 94 AES, gave his first remarks as commander of the 45 AES.

"There's nothing more humbling and motivating to me than to be a part of this unit," said Palmisano. "We are in a time of war and our mission is going to be helping our Airmen, Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers, I look forward to helping each of you successfully complete that mission."

During Palmisano's tenure in the Air Force Reserve, he previously served as commander of the 455th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in Afghanistan in 2014.