Stater takes command of the 14th OG

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jacob Corbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. --  The new commander of the 14th Operations Group took command of the unit in a formal ceremony Sept. 8 at the BLAZE Hangar here.

Col. Steven Stater was given command of the group by 14th Flying Training Wing Commander Col. Barre Seguin, soon after Col. David Reth, previous 14th OG commander, relinquished command in military tradition.

"Thank you Colonel Seguin for the privilege to command the 14th Operations Group," Colonel Stater said after the passing of command occurred. "This group is in such fantastic shape."

The departing commander, Colonel Reth, offered some advice to his replacement.

"Don't take a breath after the change of command," Colonel Reth said. "The last two years have just flown by."

Colonel Reth also had a few words for the men and women he had led for the previous two years.

"You are an absolutely incredible group of professionals," he said. "I am so very proud to have been your commander."

Colonel Seguin charged his newest group commander with continuing the tradition of excellence of the 14th OG and upholding the mission and vision of the wing.

He asked Colonel Stater to Produce Pilots, Advance Airmen and Feed the Fight, by continuing to be an Innovative Training Environment, Focused on Families and Partnered with the Community.

Colonel Stater entered the Air Force in 1987 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Program at the University of Iowa. He has served as both a T-37 first assignment instructor pilot at Reese AFB, Texas, and a T-37 instructor pilot at Mather AFB, Calif., as part of Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training.

Following his time as an instructor pilot, Colonel Stater was assigned as a C-130 pilot at Little Rock AFB, Ark. Prior to his current assignment; he was Director, Security Agreement Secretariat and Assistant Chief of Staff (Forward), United States Forces - Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq.