F-16 Fighting Falcon News

October 29, 2008 (by SSgt Holly Brown) - Colonel James Post relinquished command of the 20th Fighter Wing to Col. Joseph Guastella at a change of command ceremony.
"The challenges of a combat wing are enormous," said Lt. Gen. Gary North, 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central commander, to Colonel Guastella. "Your experiences everywhere have properly prepared you for this."

Prior to today's ceremony, Colonel Guastella was serving as the 20th Fighter Wing vice commander for two months. Before his arrival at Shaw he served as the CAPSTONE deputy director, at the National Defense University at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.

"It's a rare opportunity for the incoming commander to witness the wing in action before he takes command--but I can tell you right now--I've been impressed," Colonel Guastella said. "The focus will remain on the mission, the people and our families."

As the 20th Fighter Wing commander, Colonel Guastella will lead the Air Force's largest F-16 combat wing in its mission to maintain readiness to deploy and employ combat forces in support of operation wartime requirements worldwide. He will assume responsibility for a 19-squadron wing including three F-16 squadrons, which totals more than 80 F-16CJ Fighting Falcons worth more than $2 billion. He will also be responsible for about 6,000 military and 1,000 civilian members assigned here.

Colonel Post will proceed to his next assignment in Southwest Asia. He was the 20th Fighter Wing commander since February 2007.

"Victory was and will always be guaranteed through your commitment, attention to detail and unprecedented winning attitude," Colonel Post said to the Airmen of the 20th Fighter Wing.