ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- During a redesignation ceremony May 1, members of the 53rd Air Traffic Control Squadron embraced a new name, continuing a new chapter at Robins.

"The redesignation was the final action needed to realign our squadron in both mission and purpose," said Lt. Col. Matthew "Pudge" Davis, 53rd ATCS commander. "As one of my old commanders used to say, 'Words have meaning.'  We are now called what we actually do.

"The Airmen can now take pride in their name, and carry forward a legacy of success and promise to a new generation of Airmen who are the 53rd Air Traffic Control Squadron."

The squadron was formerly the 53rd Combat Communications Squadron, aligned under the 5th Combat Communications Group in Air Force Space Command. 

The new squadron is now aligned with the 461st Air Control Wing and Air Combat Command.

Realignment efforts began in 2014, and included the deactivation of the 54th CBCS, with all of its air traffic control personnel sent to the 53rd CBCS. 

The 53rd ATCS also moved to its new headquarters in Bldg. 1364, with 138 Airmen supporting mobile air traffic control support from a variety of career fields, including air traffic control, radar maintenance and airfield maintenance.