LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The 1st Fighter Wing marked a significant milestone during a change of command ceremony held at the 71st Fighter Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, June 6, 2025.
U.S. Air Force Col. Brandon Tellez, relinquished command of the First Team to Col. Brad Huebinger in the Air Force ceremony, presided over by Maj. Gen. David Lyons, 15th Air Force commander.
The ceremony brought Airmen, families, and distinguished guests to witness the formal transfer of authority, responsibility, and accountability of the Wing which boasts a proud heritage dating back to 1918. Known as “America’s First Team,” the 1st Fighter Wing was the first wing to fly the F-22 Raptor operationally and continues to lead the way in air superiority missions today.
During the ceremony, Tellez reflected on his time leading the wing and expressed deep gratitude to the men and women of the 1st Fighter Wing.
“Know that there are depths of gratitude in my heart I will not be able to communicate effectively,” Tellez said. “I care passionately for our mission. Since 1918 it has been our job to paint the skies red, white and blue. That job is getting harder, but so are you. I could not be more proud to serve with you.” Tellez said.
Lyons offered praise for Tellez in his time as commander while emphasizing the Wing’s enduring strategic importance to global combat readiness.
“Gringo [Tellez], you have honored the proud tradition of the 1st FW. Your tireless focus on maximizing and sustaining mission readiness during a period of historic supply chain challenges has been matched only by your passion for inspiring a competitive warrior ethos in the Airmen of this Wing,” Lyons said.
Lyons then went on to introduce and congratulate Huebinger on his new command.
“Of course, our Airmen deserve a continuation of the very best of the leadership that we have to offer and that's exactly what they're going to get with Col. Brad “Rainman” Huebinger,” he said. “Rainman, as we talked about, I know you are very well prepared to lead. I know you will continue the Wing’s proud legacy and look forward to seeing you move the ball. Lead well.”
Assuming command of the Wing, Huebinger addressed the audience with a commitment to uphold the legacy of excellence and to continue advancing the Wing’s mission.
“We owe it to our nation to continue to be the first name in air superiority. We’ll be ready to go when we get our nation’s call, but just as important we’ll train and get better every day, so that our would-be adversaries will see how good we are and decide “Not today”, Huebinger said. “Every day you hone your skills, and you get better at what you do is another day the world sees just how good you are and recognizes how bad of an idea it would be to pick a fight with you. If some unlucky force did decide to pick that fight, we’ll be ready. I can’t tell you how humbled I am to be a part of this team and how excited I am to see you continue to grow as the team that everyone everywhere recognizes as the first name in air superiority,” he said.
Taking command, Hubinger will oversee more than 2,000 personnel, two airfields, two groups, and 11 squadrons, including two F-22 fighter squadrons, the sole F-22 formal training unit, a T-38 fighter training squadron and a training support squadron.
The 1st Fighter Wing maintains and operates more than half of the F-22s in the United States Air Force's inventory at Langley Air Force Base. It deploys F-22 and projects air power globally on short notice to support Combatant Commander taskings while simultaneously maintaining, training, and ensuring combat readiness of F-22 Raptor Air Superiority. As the Wing looks ahead under new leadership, it remains a leader in combat capability and lethality across the globe, serving as America's premier Air Superiority wing.