LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Col. Mark A. Cooter assumed command of the 497th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, from Col. Dan Johnson, 480th ISR Wing Commander, at an change-of-command ceremony July 2.
"Amy and I are very happy to welcome Mark and Angelina to the 480th ISR Wing family," said Colonel Johnson, in his speech before the crowd of 480th ISR Wing members and distinguished guests. "Mark brings a wealth of experience to his new command."
Colonel Cooter was the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division chief at U. S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. He was introduced to unmanned-aerial-vehicle operations with a tour as the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron deputy commander for operations, whose pilots remotely fly the Predators from Indian Springs, Nev. That assignment was followed by an assignment at the Pentagon as the UAV Operations chief.
Colonel Cooter thanked his family, friends and military mentors who were in the audience to witness the ceremony. "Fellow Airmen of the 497th, thanks for the warm welcome you provided my family. You are the real stars of this show."
As the new 497th ISR Group commander, Colonel Cooter will direct the operation of three intelligence squadrons, comprised of nearly 1,500 personnel at two geographically separated locations, spanning four areas of operation within a war-fighting theater.
Colonel Cooter said he was impressed by the 497th Airmen's ability to conduct global integrated ISR supporting global vigilance, reach and power. "I am truly honored to stand before you. You provide airpower's global ISR effect to the joint force commander."
The 497th ISR Group operates a $1 billion AN/GSQ-272 Sentinel weapon system, commonly referred to as the Distributed Ground System-1. The DGS-1 mission includes analytical and reporting elements of Imagery and Signals Intelligence for U-2, Predator, Reaper, and Global Hawk imagery.