45th Fighter Squadron Change of Command

Updated December 11, 2009

Released today on D-M's public website:



Lt. Col. Terry McClain (right) receives the 45th Fighter Squadron guidon from Col. Keith Schultz, 917th Operations Group commander, during a change-of-command ceremony at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, December 5, 2009. Lt. Col. McClain previously served as the 45th Fighter Squadron's director of operations before being appointed commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alesia Goosic) Hi-res


Later released as photo news "917th Wing associate unit welcomes new commander" by 917th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, December 9, 2009:



Colonel Keith Schultz, of the 917th Wing's Operations Group at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, accepts the 45th Fighter Squadron guidon from Lt. Col. Rodney Glass, commander, 45th FS, during the change of command ceremony for the 45th FS at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, December 5, 2009. In doing so, Colonel Glass relinquished command of and responsibility for the 45th FS. The 45th Fighter Squadron was originally activated December 1, 1940, as the 45th Pursuit (Fighter) Squadron, one of three squadrons assigned to the 15th Pursuit Group, Wheeler Field, territory of Hawaii. Inactivated and reactivated several times during its distinguished history, the 45th Fighter Squadron was once again reactivated November 1, 2009, as an associate unit with the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan, assigned to the 917th Wing at Barksdale. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alicia Goosic) Hi-res



Lt. Col. Terry McClain accepts the 45th Fighter Squadron guidon from Colonel Keith Schultz, of the 917th Wing's Operations Group at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, during the change of command ceremony for the 45th FS at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, December 5, 2009. In doing so, Colonel McClain took command of and responsibility for the 45th FS at Davis-Monthan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alicia Goosic) Hi-res

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Archived info:

45 FS designation confirmed

by Tech. Sgt. Robert J. Horstman
2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs

3/7/2008 - Barksdale AFB, La -- It's official! The 45th Fighter Squadron was confirmed in January as the unit designation for the new A-10 reserve associate unit at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

The 45 FS, assigned to the 917th Operations Group, will fly with the 355th Fighter Wing. Its mission will be to support A-10 pilot training, according to Col. Ozzie Gorbitz, 917 OG commander.

Following a site activation task force visit in January, Lt. Cols. Rod Glass and Terry McClain, senior leadership, are now laying the groundwork for the development of their 24-man team.

"Building a unit from scratch has its challenges," said Colonel Gorbitz. "They are establishing processes and procedures, writing a host/tenant agreement, and building flight records...all from the ground up."

"This will be a reserve association, where reservists will associate (directly) with active duty. We're taking lessons learned from other associate units, success stories like the 355th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf," he said.

"This total force initiative will provide highly skilled and experienced Hawgdrivers, who want to leave active duty but not the mission, the option to do so in the reserve component," said Colonel Glass.

The 45 FS leadership is in the process of hiring their first four A-10 instructor pilots and one administration support person. According to Colonel Glass, they hope to have their full staff of 24 personnel on board within the next three years.

"This TFI is about building relationships with people of two different viewpoints. The goals are common. We must learn how to communicate them," Colonel Gorbitz said.

A formal squadron activation ceremony is set for September.



Lt. Col. Rod Glass and Lt. Col. Terry McClain, 45th Fighter Squadron senior leaders, stand in front of an A-10 at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, March 5, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sherri Bohannon) Hi-res

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