New maintenance group commander takes the reins Published July 13, 2006 By Capt. Denise Burnham 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, TURKEY -- The new maintenance group commander, Col. John Taylor, assumed command and received his first salute Wednesday in Hangar 4.Colonel "Tip" Stinnette, 39th Air Base Wing commander, presided over the ceremony which was attended by more than 250 people to include members of the maintenance squadron, commanders, first sergeants, chiefs, family members and Turkish friends. "The qualifications of a leader determine to a larger extent than any other single element, the effect and success of that unit," said Colonel Stinnette. "I can think of no other person better to take command of our maintenance heroes!" Colonel Taylor has been in the Air Force more than 20 years. He was a 1983 distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at Michigan Technological University. He is command pilot with more than 2,700 flying hours and 88 combat missions in the F-111 and F-15E as part of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort and Deny Flight. He has served various staff jobs over the years, most recently at the Pentagon and he served in joint assignments as the Operations director of the Join Staff an Operations Officer in CENTCOM. Before arriving on station here he most recently was the Weapon Systems Liaison Division Chief in the Office of Legislative Liaison, Air Force Secretariat, Washington, D.C. "Thanks for the opportunity to guide and mold the maintenance team as they become better Airmen and citizens," said Colonel Taylor. "I want to help you grow and help the maintenance group to be successful." He thanked the men and women of his unit for their sacrifice and service to the nation.