Welch takes command of the 931st ARW

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Abigail Klein
  • 931st Air Refueling Wing

The 931st Air Refueling Wing, the reserve component at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, hosted a change of command ceremony June 3.  

During the ceremony, Col. Cynthia A. Welch took command of the 931st ARW. Welch was previously the commander of the 446th Operations Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Col. Phil Heseltine has commanded the wing since December 2018, after retiring from active duty as the 22nd Air Refueling Wing vice commander in August 2018. His next assignment will include working as a civilian in the local community, where he has built strong ties for the past eight years.

Brig. Gen. D. Scott Durham, Commander, 4th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, March Air Reserve Base, California, presided over the change of command ceremony. 

The 931st ARW is an associate unit with the active duty 22nd ARW at McConnell. In conjunction with the 22nd ARW, the 931st ARW supports Air Mobility Command’s (AMC) worldwide air refueling mission, meeting the air refueling needs of all U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine and selected allied nations’ aircraft. In addition, they supplement AMC’s strategic airlift capability.

There are more than 700 Airmen are assigned to the 931 ARW.