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Colonel Metzgar Assumes Command of the 171st Air Refueling Wing

  • Published
  • By TSgt. Todd McFeeley
  • 171st Air Refueling Wing
Coraopolis, PA. --  On Aug. 3rd, the 171st Air Refueling Wing, located in Coraopolis, PA. hosted a Wing Commander Assumption of Command Ceremony. The Assumption of Command Ceremony, is a formal ceremony where the commander assumed the responsibility of the 171st Air Refueling Wing. Troops assembled in formation in honor of this event.

Col. Edward E. "Ted" Metzgar assumed Command of the 171st Air Refueling Wing. He previously served as the Commander of the 128th Air Refueling Wing, General Mitchell Field Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he commanded an organization that is responsible for maintaining worldwide unit readiness for KC-135 combat support operations.
Col. Metzgar received his commission in 1981 after graduating from the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is a Command Pilot with over 3,600 flying hours.

Upon taking command of the unit, Colonel Metzgar is the twentieth Commander in the history of the Pa. Air National Guard's 171st Air Refueling Wing. As Wing Commander, he administers and supervises the Wing and its subordinate units; ensures combat readiness in the mobilization missions of units under his command; and is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Air National Guard base at the Pittsburgh International Airport.

The 171st Air Refueling Wing, located in Coraopolis, Pa. is the only Super Tanker Wing in the Air National Guard with 16 KC-135R/T aircraft. Our unit mobilization and missions have supported Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Odyssey Dawn, Unified Protector and the detainee movement operations and continue to actively support missions throughout the world.