POPE ARMY AIRFIELD, N.C. — Hundreds of Airmen and special guests welcomed a new member to the Gryphon team as Col. Timothy Danielson took command of the 43d Air Mobility Operations Group from Col. Kelly Holbert during a change-of-command ceremony here May 23.
Maj. Gen. Christopher Bence, commander of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., presided over the ceremony. He bid farewell to Holbert and his family, and welcomed Colonel Danielson to Pope Army Airfield and Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty).
The colonel comes to Pope from the Pentagon, where he most recently served as the deputy director of the U.S. Africa Command Liaison Office. He previously served as the branch chief for Iraq/Syria/D-ISIS in J-5 Strategic Plans and Policy office, also at the Pentagon, and as the commander of the 92d Operations Support Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., in addition to numerous other U.S. and overseas assignments.
After accepting the group guidon and officially accepting command of the 43d AMOG, Danielson thanked Holbert and his family for their service, expressed appreciation to General Bence for the opportunity to command the Gryphons, and shared a bit of his vision for the future of the 43d AMOG.
“We will continue to build on the efforts and service of those who preceded us, set favorable conditions for those who will follow, and most importantly, continue to give world-class support to our military partners,” he said. “That is our charge, and as your commander, I’m willing, able, ready, now.”
Colonel Danielson is a highly-experienced C-130, C-21 and KC-135 pilot with nearly 20 years of service, and has served in key staff and flying positions in support of Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1997, and holds a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The colonel is also a graduate of the Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air War College, and the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.