Col. Mark Weatherington assumes command of 28th BW

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jarad A. Denton
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Col. Mark Weatherington assumed command of the 28th Bomb Wing from Col. Jeffrey Taliaferro during a ceremony at the Ellsworth Air Force Base PRIDE Hangar, May 13.

The ceremony, officiated by Brig. Gen. Jon Norman, 12th Air Force vice commander, was attended by men and women across the wing.

"We spend a lot of time in the Air Force picking the right leaders," General Norman said. "I think it goes without saying that today the 28th Bomb Wing gets a leader armed with the right tools to take this wing to the next level."

General Normal said the 28th BW is in good hands with Colonel Weatherington, who assumes command of Ellsworth after nearly two years as chief of U.S. Air Forces Central Commander's Action Group, Combined Air Operations Center, Southwest Asia.

"The 28th Bomb Wing enjoys a rich combat heritage - one that grows even today as Airmen from this wing sustain and execute combat missions in the Middle East," Colonel Weatherington said. "With a decade of back-to-back combat deployments; a first ever B-1 global strike in Libya; a constant churn of individual augmentees and teams from every one of these fine groups to far flung locations around the world; and the approaching stand-up of MQ-9 mission control operations, all of you have made this wing the preeminent combat wing in our Air Force. I salute your efforts and I look forward to helping you build on this proud legacy."

Colonel Weatherington said he will build on the legacy of the 28th BW by focusing his mission priorities on combat capability, safety and security of the Ellsworth team, building trust and public confidence and caring for Airmen and their families.

"Together, we will focus on the people and processes that guarantee combat power and posture Ellsworth and the 28th Bomb Wing for sustained excellence - a star in the constellation of bases that guarantee our national security," he said. "I am grateful for your service and for this opportunity to lead team Ellsworth."

Before relinquishing command to take a position at the Pentagon as chief of Combat Forces Division, Colonel Taliaferro thanked the local communities for their ongoing support of Ellsworth. He also expressed his pride and gratitude to the Airmen of the 28th BW.

"Two years ago, on this stage, we recounted the proud traditions of this wing, and the daunting combat challenges that laid ahead," he said. "And over that time, you have stood up to the test of history and more than continued this wing's proud tradition. There is no team more deserving of its ties to our proud heritage."