MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The 23d Wing and Moody Air Force Base welcomed Col. Daniel P. Walls and said farewell to Col. Jennifer M. Short during a change of command ceremony May 31, here.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Zobrist, Ninth Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony. The event marks the next chapter in the legacy of the World Famous Flying Tigers as Walls takes command of the installation and the historic wing.
“To the men and women of the 23d Wing, I look forward to getting to know you in the coming days,” said Walls. “Thank you for your service and what you do for our nation and our Air Force. I will do my absolute best every day to live up to the amazingly high bar that you have set. Attack, Rescue, Prevail.”
Before Walls accepted the guidon and command of the 23d Wing, Zobrist wished Short and her family the best of luck and commended her on the level of support she provided to Team Moody during her tenure.
“She was a dogged advocate for everything that Moody stands for, for every Airman at Moody Air Force Base,” said Zobrist. “She was fighting for you all – Airman, civilian and family members alike.”
Zobrist then welcomed Team Walls to South Georgia and introduced Tiger 1 as an accomplished leader with the ability and experience to lead Moody’s five groups, 21 squadrons, more than 4,000 Airmen, over 700 civilian employees and 71 aircraft.
“If you look at Col. Walls resume, you will see an amazing set of accomplishments,” said Zobrist. “Combat experience in so many different conflicts and leadership at all different levels.
“Colonel Walls actually has Flying Tiger experience as well,” added Zobrist. “Colonel Walls has one glaring deficiency in his resume and that is that you have never been assigned to Moody. So that is going to be fixed! The Air Force recognized that and they are going to reunite you with your Flying Tiger team that you separated with when they were a part of the 4th Fighter Wing. Now they are a wing in their own right and you have the privilege of commanding the wing and your record will be largely complete with a Moody assignment.”
Col. Walls previously served as an A-10 pilot with the 74th and 75th Fighter Squadrons when the units were located at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. As an A-10 pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, 566 combat hours and experience leading Airmen at every level, Walls is prepared for the challenges of commanding the 23d Wing.