Incirlik GSU welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Tanju Varlikli
  • 425th ABG Host Nation Advisor
IZMIR AIR BASE, Turkey --  Col. Richard Robel, former United States Air Forces in Europe Air Operations Command and Control Division Directorate chief, assumed command of the 425th Air Base Group from Col. Norman Potter, April 30 in a change of command ceremony at the Izmir Bayraklı Parade Grounds. Col. Phil McDaniel, 39th Air Base Wing commander, officiated. 

Colonel Robel began his career in 1985 as weapons director at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. In 1986, he became the E3-B/C weapons director at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Colonel Robel also served as director of operations of the 116th Operations Support Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia from 2001 to 2004 and commander of the 429th Expeditionary Operations Squadron, Curacao, Netherlands, Antilles, from 2004 to 2005. 

As a master air battle manager, Colonel Robel has more than 4,200 flying hours in command and control aircraft, to include 340 combat hours in various aircraft.
 
Guests attendeding the ceremony included: Lt. Gen. Lee McFann, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allied Air Component Command-Izmir commander and his wife Debbie, Maj. Gen. Dimitrios Savopoulos, NATO Allied Air Component Command-Izmir Headquarters deputy chief of staff of operations and his daughter Helen, Maj. Gen. Akın Ozturk, Cigli 2nd Main Jet Base commander, Deputy Governor Nevzat Ergun; former Izmir Police Chief Halil Tatas, Izmir Fire Chief Hasan Fehmi İstengir; Izmir Search, Rescue and Health Director Cengiz Ongor, Izmir 112 Emergency Service Branch Director, Dr. Okan Ozmen and other local and U.S. dignitaries.