Mason takes command of 931st ARG

  • Published
  • By Brannen Parrish
  • 931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs
McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. --  Colonel William H. Mason, accepted command of the 931st Air Refueling Group from Brigadier Gen. Mark A. Kyle, Commander, 4th Air Force, during an assumption of command ceremony here, Aug. 6.

The former naval aviator joined the Air Force Reserve in 2003, after a 14-year active duty career in the Navy. He comes to the 931st ARG from Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., where he served as the 434th Operations Group commander.

During the ceremony, Colonel Mason told the assembly that they should expect to work at being the best at what they do.

"We are going to work hard to be the best tanker unit in the Air Force," said Colonel Mason.

Brig. Gen. Mark A. Kyle, 4th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command selected Colonel Mason to command the 931st ARG.

"Colonel Mason has a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience that will serve him well as commander of the 931st Air Refueling Group," said General Kyle. "I know that under his leadership, the men and women of the 931st will continue to get the job done the right way, overcome challenges, and ultimately, accomplish whatever the mission requires. I have the greatest confidence that Col. Mason will do a fantastic job as commander."

Colonel Mason grew up in Auburn, Ala. He graduated from Auburn High School in 1983 and is a 1987 graduate of Auburn University. While studying Biology at Auburn, Colonel Mason participated in Naval ROTC. After graduation he became a Navy pilot and spent the majority of his Navy career flying E-6A and E-6B aircraft as part of the Navy's Take Charge and Move Out mission.

Colonel Mason's father, Bill Mason, was a Biology professor at Auburn University from the late 1960s until his death in 1990. His late-mother, Jane, was a homemaker.

"Growing up in Auburn was a great experience, small southern town with a big university," said Colonel Mason. "I wanted to go to Auburn University my whole life so the decision on where to go to school was easy."

While at Auburn, Mason majored in biology, participated in Naval ROTC and met his wife, Stacey, who also grew up on the plains. The couple have three children Guy, 21, Seth, 18, and Kelly, 16.

Though military assignments and travel have limited the Mason family's opportunities to return home, they welcome every opportunity to visit.
"The thing about the south that both my wife and I love is how nice the people are. We don't get back to visit as often as we did when the kids were younger," said Mason "But it still amazes me how down to earth and nice the people are. "

According to Cmdr. Shannon E. Coulter, Executive Officer, Auburn Naval ROTC, the selection of a former naval aviator who served in Auburn's Corps of Cadets is further evidence of the quality of the program at Auburn, and of the cadets who have come through the program.

"Auburn Naval ROTC has a long and proud tradition of providing our nation with high quality military officers," said Cmdr. Coulter. "We are certainly proud to hear about the successes and accomplishments of our former cadets whether they continue their careers as naval officers, as officers in another branch of the military, or in any other sector."