Gandy takes command of ABW

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 95th Air Base Wing welcomed its new commander May 16 during an appointment to command ceremony at building 3000 here. 

Col. Jerry Gandy succeeds Col. Bryan Gallagher, who died Feb. 5. 

"Today is the next step in our journey," said Maj. Gen. David Eichhorn, Air Force Flight Test Center commander, who officiated the appointment of command ceremony. "Today, we continue the healing process and pass the baton to Colonel Jerry Gandy. He is a strong, compassionate leader, and we are fortunate to have his strong family with him." 

As the 95th ABW commander and Edwards installation commander, Colonel Gandy is responsible for base operations that include infrastructure, communication systems, security, medical services, fire protection, transportation, supply, finance, contracting, legal services, personnel and manpower support as well as housing, education, chapel and quality-of-life programs. 

"What we do here directly contributes to our ability to produce air and space power dominance for our nation," Colonel Gandy said. "All of you have worked tremendously to keep the wing moving forward." 

Within the past few years, the wing has never looked better and never been better, General Eichhorn said. It has been on the path of success for the last few years, reversing years and years of neglect. 

"And then suddenly on the fifth of February this year, the world came shuttering to a stop with the death of Colonel Gallagher," he said. "No one would want to take over under this circumstance. We are very fortunate to have two tough leaders at the helm of the wing. Life will only continue to get better and better for people at Edwards." 

Although two years is a relatively short time to lead a wing, Colonel Gandy said it is all about the team. 

"Like a wave tossed in the ocean or a vapor in the wind, commanders come and go," he said. "What we promise to do for you during our time here is to lead the command. A leader's job is to provide a vision to work toward and an environment to accomplish it in. My promise to you is that during the next few years, we will continue to excel in providing world-class support for our mission at Edwards." 

In leading the command, Colonel Gandy said he promised to have character that engenders trust, courage to lead and take risk for organizational greatness. He also promised to have compassion to remember that it is the people here who are the heart and soul of the 95th ABW. 

"Men and women of the 95th Air Base Wing, we thank you for this great privilege," Colonel Gandy said. "We promise to strive everyday to make the most of the time we've been given." 

Prior to coming to Edwards, Colonel Gandy was the executive assistant to the deputy commander of the U.S. Joint Forces Command. 

A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Colonel Gandy deployed his squadron to Saudi Arabia where he commanded more than 900 Airmen who are credited with constructing a "bare base" in 17 days. He also met 100 percent of air tasking orders, amassing 571 F-15 Eagle sorties and 2,405 C-130 Hercules sorties. 

Colonel Gandy was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1984 following graduation from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss. He is a command pilot with 2,546 flight hours in the F-4 Phantom and F-15 aircraft, and has flown 229 combat flight hours.