News

ABW welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78 ABW/PA
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The new 78th Air Base Wing commander is coming off an assignment in which he saw firsthand how the work at Robins contributes to the warfighter and is saving lives.

In a change of command ceremony Wednesday, Col. Carl Buhler reflected on his experience over the past year as commander of the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group in Southwest Asia. He commanded a team of 1,100 personnel responsible for sortie generation and aircraft/munitions maintenance.

After taking the guidon from the outgoing commander, Col. Warren Berry, Colonel Buhler said he witnessed the importance of the work done at Robins. He recalled a Taliban attack on a group of about 50 Soldiers in Afghanistan almost a year ago, in which nine U.S. Soldiers and four Afghan nationals were killed. It remains the deadliest attack against U.S. troops since 2005.

But later Colonel Buhler talked to a survivor of that attack, who told him the entire unit would have died had it not been for the rapid response of air support, including the F-15 Strike Eagle.

"It only takes a quick look around this base to see the aircraft that played a role that day, that play a role every day," he said. "At the end of the day, air power saves lives."

He said the 78th Air Base Wing is critical to the production of the air power brought to bear that day.

"I will work tirelessly to ensure this team meets its mission of actively supporting airpower," he said. "Just thinking about the honor that we collectively have, by supporting the delivery and sustainment of combat-ready air power as well as the myriad of organizations on Robins, chills me to the bone."

For the wing members in attendance at the ceremony, Colonel Buhler also gave a brief description of what they can expect from him.

"I will make every decision with a mission purpose," he said. "I will make the decision with a keen understanding and a balance in three specific areas: one, the effect on the mission; two, the impact on personnel; and three, impact on efficiency."

Before relinquishing command, Colonel Berry shared a few final thoughts with members of the wing that he commanded since January 2008. He rattled off a list of awards and accomplishments for the wing during his tenure, but he did not take credit for those.

"Those are pretty amazing accomplishments and not one of them is mine," he said. "I was just lucky enough to be here in this time and this place to share in their success. Nothing you do is alone, and the 78th has been and is a remarkable team. You have made us all proud and you have made me proud."

Although members of the 78th ABW can expect some change, Maj. Gen. Polly Peyer, commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, said they should not be concerned, as Colonel Buhler and Colonel Berry have many similarities. 

"For those people who are concerned about change and what change brings, I would offer to you that there is some stability in this change because you are getting a commander who has very much the same background," she said.