Izmir welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By 39th Air Base Wing
  • Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Col. Norman Potter, recent graduate, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., assumed command of the 425th Air Base Group, Izmir Air Base, Turkey, from Col. Lori Ramirez at 10 a.m. July 16 on the 425th ABG Parade Ground. Col. Philip McDaniel, 39th Air Base Wing commander, officiated the ceremony.

Colonel Potter enlisted in the Georgia Air National Guard in 1975 where he served five years in the Aircraft Maintenance career field. In 1980, he was commissioned at the Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.

He commanded the 42nd Airborne Command and Control Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., and Detachment 3, Southeast Air Defense Sector, Cudjoe Key Air Force Station, Fla. Colonel Potter's service in Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Provide Comfort, Deny Flight, Deliberate Force, Joint Endeavor, Iraqi Freedom, as well as, Counter-Drug operations in Central and South America and air operations on the Korean Peninsula have earned him more than 50 major awards and decorations.

As a Master Air Battle Manager, Colonel Potter has more than 4,000 flying hours in command and control aircraft, to including 1,800 combat and combat support hours, in the following air frames: F-105G, NE-3A, E-3B,C, E-8C and EC-130E.