New 927th Maintenance Group commander takes charge

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing/Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Lieutenant Colonel Kelly L. Bailey took command of the 927th Maintenance Group during an assumption of command ceremony held on Saturday of the May Unit Training Assembly here.

The colonel began his career as an active duty enlisted wideband/satellite communications maintenance technician in 1991. He transferred to the officer corps in 1998 as a communications and information officer, he then transitioned to cyber operations and later joined the Air Force Reserve and cross-trained into aircraft maintenance in 2007. He has served in multiple positions at the squadron, wing and numbered Air Force level. His assignments span six different major commands to include two overseas assignments.

"You've got great Airmen that make this aircraft perform, you've got a lot of self-starting, self-charging Airmen," said Col. Randal Bright, 927 ARW commander. "All you have to do is take hold of that tiller and guild it 'cause' they are going to take you were you need to go."

Lieutenant Colonel Bailey received a Bachelor of Technology degree from Charleston Southern University and was commissioned upon completion as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program in June 1998.

As 927th MXG commander, Lt. Col. Bailey will now be responsible to oversee the 927th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 927th Maintenance Operations Flight, and the 927th Maintenance Squadron.

The 927th ARW alongside their mission partner, the 6th Air Mobility Wing provides a dedicated and prepared total force team to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace.