JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS –
U.S. Air Force Col. Brandon “Gringo” Tellez assumed command from Col. William “Tank” Creeden of the 1st Fighter Wing during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, June 30, 2023.
Tellez stepped into his new position after serving as the previous 1st Operations Group commander, making him no stranger to the wing’s adapt and win mindset and air superiority mission.
Maj. Gen. Michael Koscheski, 15th Air Force commander, served as presiding officer of the ceremony.
“Col. Tellez comes to us with an impressive resume and he’s no stranger to the 1st Fighter Wing mission,” said Koscheski. “As the 1st Ops Group commander, he has been a critical part of the success over the past few years. He is well prepared to lead this wing. I know he will live up to the 1st Fighter Wing’s legacy.”
Tellez spoke about his excitement to lead such a critical wing in the defense of our nation and the phenomenal Airmen who make it all possible.
“I am not new to this base and I am not new to you,” said Tellez. “I know where you came from and I know where you’re going to be asked to go but more importantly I know you. You all are well aware of the tremendous legacy of air superiority that you stand for …and you’re fully aware of the responsibility that comes with it. America assumes that these skies are ours and you ensure it.”
Before the wing ushered in a new era of leadership, Creeden was presented with a Legion of Merit Medal. Under his command, the wing achieved new levels of combat readiness including setting historic Air Force records for F-22 sortie production, executing two Secretary of Defense-directed Immediate Response Force F-22 deployments, and achieving the first F-22 air-to-air shoot-down of a no-fail national interest target.
“Col Creeden fostered a culture of resourcefulness,” said Koscheski. “He valued every Airmen as part of the team and ensured they had the necessary training to fly, fight, and win. The Airmen of the 1st Fighter Wing have been exceptional because you have led them well.”
As he prepares to move on to his next assignment, Creeden offered some final words of thanks to the wing.
“Much has been asked of you over the last few years, at times you did not have the resources you needed to get it done but you did it,” said Creeden. “You flat out got it done. You made the difficult look easy and you took unprecedented and you made it our standard.”