Former naval aviator to assume command of 931st Air Refueling Group

  • Published
  • By Brannen Parrish
  • 931st ARG Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  While the vast majority of Air Force Reserve officers are commissioned through Air Force ROTC, Officer Training School and the Air Force Academy, the incoming commander of the 931st Air Refueling Group began his military career with the U.S. Navy.

Colonel William H. Mason, will assume command of the 931st Air Refueling Group during the unit training assembly, Aug. 6.

Being the best in the refueling business is one of Colonel Mason's major priorities for the 931st ARG.

"My goal for the unit is to be the best tanker unit in the Air Force, not just the Air Force Reserve. I know there are challenges there with it being an associate unit that doesn't own airplanes," said Colonel Mason. "I've received a lot of phone calls. My wing commander here at the 434th ARW is Col. [William] Cahoon, the former commander at the 931st. I've gotten a lot of input from previous commanders, and people on what they think should be done. Everybody has a different idea. I'm really looking forward to getting there and spending a little time getting to know the organization, and then trying to determine where I think we can take it and make it stronger than it is."

After receiving a commission through Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at Auburn University, Colonel Mason served as a naval aviator spending the majority of his career piloting E-6A and E-6 B Mercury aircraft in support of the "Take Charge and Move Out" mission. The TACAMO community provides aerial communication links that enable the nation's top decision-makers to maintain direct contact with submarines, bombers and missile silos during national emergencies.

Brigadier Gen. Mark A. Kyle, Commander, 4th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command said Colonel Mason's knowledge and experience will benefit him as the new leader of 931st ARG.

"Col. 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 Colonel Mason will do a fantastic job as commander."

Colonel Mason served 14-years as a naval aviator. He left active duty in 2001 and joined the Air Force Reserve in 2002. He comes to the 931st ARG after serving as the Commander of the 434th Operations Group at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind.

Though Colonel Mason is moving from one group command to another, he will command an organization with nearly three times as many Airmen and squadrons under his charge.

"It's definitely a step up," Colonel Mason said. "This move is pretty much historically, the way McConnell has been run. I have either worked for, worked with, or know all but two of the previous group commanders there at McConnell when they were all previous ops' group commanders. The person who goes there is always a previous OG; it's never a first time group commander."

According to Colonel Mason's current commander at the 434th ARW, Col. William T. Cahoon, the 931st is receiving a leader whose attention is on mission accomplishment and teamwork.

"Colonel Mason is a mission focused leader. He is not in this business for his own benefit; he believes in the team and getting the job done," said Colonel Cahoon. "He is a logical, serious, deliberate commander, who I think has strong character and integrity. He is fair and objective and believes in doing what is right. I would gladly have a man of his quality serve with me again anytime. "

With twenty-three years of combined Navy and Air Force experience, Colonel Mason will offer a unique point of view as the Air Force becomes more engaged in joint operations.

"It is certain that we are operating in an increasingly joint environment, and Colonel Mason's extensive naval aviation experience will continue to serve him, and us well," said Colonel Cahoon, who commanded the 931st ARG from 2006 to 2008. "The Air Force and the Air Force Reserve are coming to value joint experience more and more. It brings additional diverse experience to his role as commander that I think helps him have better perspective on potential solutions to any number of issues he may have to deal with as the group commander."

Colonel Mason said he attempts to approach matters evenhandedly, while incorporating the lessons he learned throughout his military career.

"I think I'm fair. I think that one thing I have going for me is 14 years in the Navy," said Colonel Mason. "I've seen a lot of commanders, good and bad, and I've tried very hard not to emulate the bad ones and to copy as much as I can from the good ones."

The 931st ARG is one of 12 Air Force Reserve Command flying groups, and the first associate tanker unit in the Air Force Reserve. Colonel Mason will become the unit's ninth commander since its reactivation at McConnell AFB in 1994.