Air Force 1st Fighter Wing Holds Change of Command Ceremony for 52nd and 53rd Commanders

The Republic of Korea Air Force 1st Fighter Wing (hereinafter 1st FW) held the 52nd and 53rd Commander Change of Command Ceremony at 10 a.m. on the 6th in the auditorium within the base, presided over by Air Combat Command Commander Kim Jun-ho, with key regional officials and military personnel in attendance.

At the event, newly appointed Commander Brigadier General Byun Seong-eun (Air Force Academy Class 43) received the unit flag symbolizing command authority from Air Combat Command Commander Kim Jun-ho, thereby assuming the role of the 53rd Commander of the 1st Fighter Wing, responsible for defending the southwestern airspace of the Korean Peninsula and training elite fighter pilots.

Commander Byun graduated from the Air Force Academy Class 43 and was commissioned as an Air Force Second Lieutenant in 1995. He has held key positions including Director of Base Development at Air Force Headquarters, Head of the KF-21 Project Support Team at Air Force Headquarters, and Director of Test and Evaluation at the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Notably, Commander Byun served as the Commander of the 1st FW Air Operations Group for about one year starting December 2018. He is recognized as an individual with exceptional understanding of the working environment at Gwangju Base and the main missions of the Fighter Wing.

In his inaugural address, Commander Byun stated, "After four years, I am deeply moved and grateful for the opportunity to serve again as your commander. At the same time, I feel an immense sense of responsibility. As always, I will strive for a 1st Fighter Wing filled with safety in the skies and peace on the ground."

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Lee Tae-gyu, who successfully completed his mission as the outgoing commander for about one year since December 2022, was promoted to Director of Informatization Planning at Air Force Headquarters.