Change of command for the 461st Air Control Wing

Early Tuesday morning on June 8, the Robins Air Force Base JSTARS (Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System) held a ceremony for a change of command of the 461st Air Control Wing at RAFB.

The Wing was first constituted as the 461st Bombardment Group in May 1943 in Utah, while the 461st Air Control Wing was activated in October 2011. Since then, they have earned six Meritorious Unit Awards and three Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards.

The ceremony began with an arrival of the official party, followed by a Posting of Colors by RAFB Honor Guard, and a singing of the National Anthem by Mrs. Leah Johnson, a RAFB spouse.

The ceremony then proceeded with an opening speech by Major General Chad P. Franks introducing the outgoing Commander of the 461st Air Control Wing, Colonel Edward G. Goebel, and the incoming Commander, Colonel Michelle C. Carns.

Franks is the Commander of the 15th Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina and has served since 1990.

During the ceremony, Franks began with an introduction of the commanders and their families, as well as their family military histories in the U.S. Air Force.

He then proceeded with more on the background of the 461st and the numerous missions it has endured. “The 461st stood ready to deliver lethal effects anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice,” Franks said.

Franks went on to share how those in the 461st Air Control Wing have upheld their duties and responsibilities immaculately.

“The men and women of the 461st Control Wing have earned their reputation as the most combat capable Wing in the world,” Franks said. “As we sit here today, the warriors of the 461st Air Control Wing stand ready to respond to short notice to any world wide tasking and execute the Wing’s mission to provide combat and commanders with war fighting capabilities anywhere and anytime.”

Franks elaborated on how capable and innovative the airmen are and how willing they are to take care of the business of this nation, and that we should credit them and not the machines.

Outgoing Commander, Colonel Edward Goeble, spoke after Franks and first thanked everyone in the ceremony and everyone who he has worked closely with for so many years, including his family.

“Our families are unpaid volunteers in this military life, and they are an integral part of the capabilities we bring to bear in defense of our nation, so thank you to all of our families and friends,” Goeble said. “The future may not look as today’s construct, but as long as JSTARS is flying, we are in this together.”

Goeble went on to speak about the members of the 461st and the challenges they’ve faced and how they’ve overcome. “You flew, you fought and you won many times over,” Goeble said. “We will never finish the job, we will never have a reason to stop learning.”

Goeble served as commander from July 2019 to June 2021 and has served in the Air Force since 1998.

The ceremony then proceeded with the official Change of Command followed by a speech by the incoming Commander Colonel Michelle C. Carns.

Carns expressed thanks to everyone who has brought her where she is today and went on to speak about the 461st.

“It’s you, and the families who support you, who make this organization second to none. It is you who trained to fight day in and day out to ensure we are ready anytime we are called upon to go anywhere we are called to go,” Carns said. “I can think of no greater honor than to be part of an organization of men and women who, despite the cost or the personal sacrifice, train and prepare everyday to take the fight to the enemy… What you do, has been, and always will be, a source of inspiration for me.”

The ceremony ended with the first salute to Carns by the men and women of the 461st Air Control Wing, and a change of the name on the aircraft to Colonel Michelle C. Carns.

Carns served as Vice Commander for two years, has been in the Air Force since 1997 and is offiicially Commander of the 461st Air Control Wing as of June 2021.

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