New commander takes reign at 412 MXG

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Alan Williams
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs superintendent
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  As Col. Mark R. Mueller looked forward to his upcoming retirement, Col. Mary Ann Behne assumed command of the 412th Maintenance Group July 7.

Colonel Behne, a former deputy maintenance group commander at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., most recently completed a tour at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort Leslie J. McNair in Washington, D.C.

As the commander, she will lead more than 1,700 personnel who support 86 customized and distinctively configured aircraft. The group's fleet consists of 26 mission design series aircraft that operate 25 different propulsion systems. The primary mission of the 412 MXG is to conduct logistics test and evaluation on aircraft, aircraft subsystems, support equipment and technical orders for System Program Offices, Combined Test Forces, the USAF Test Pilot School, NASA, foreign government programs and commercial contractors.

She was commissioned in 1988 at the United States Air Force Academy where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Astronautical Engineering. She has also earned a Master of Military Operational Art and Science degree from the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. and most recently earned a Master of Science in Strategic Resource Management from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University, Fort McNair.

The new commander brings vast experience to the 412th Test Wing. In her previous assignments she has served as the Combat Operations Support Flight commander, 7th Supply Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; Munitions Flight commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic Of Korea; an International Project Manager, Defense Threat Reduction Agency in Washington D.C.; commander, 7th Supply Squadron, Dyess AFB; commander, 7th Maintenance Operations Squadron, Dyess; chief, Maintenance Management Branch, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.; commander, 16th Component Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field; and commander, 16th Helicopter Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field. 

The colonel's awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Air Force Recognition Ribbon. Colonel Behne was promoted colonel July 1.

Colonel Mueller, whose retirement ceremony was July 8, plans to reside in Ogden, Utah. (Information compiled official biographies)