PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Lt. Col. John Lowe assumed command of the 920th Operations Group during an assumption of command ceremony held here Nov. 6, 2022.
The assumption of command is a long-standing military tradition which uses the passing of a guidon from one commanding officer to another, symbolizing a formal transfer of ownership and responsibility.
Prior to Lt. Col. Lowe’s assumption of command, he served as Chief of Plans and Exercises for the 920th RQW Fusion Cell. He is a command pilot with more than 2,800 flight hours and has flown in 149 combat missions in support operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM-HORN OF AFRICA.
“We will get after every new challenge that faces this group together. Not one unit, not one single Airman will face any risk or threat by themselves. As such, expect to continue down the path of building a combined arms operations group through the continued development of the Personnel Recovery Task Force presentation. Expect to see authority pushed down to lower levels of rank. If you are in charge, you’re expected to take charge and make decisions based on the mission and commander’s intent while accepting appropriate risk. We will back each other up and we will never let anyone fall behind.,” said Lowe.
The 920th OG is comprised of the 308th Rescue Squadron, 39th Rescue Squadron, 301st Rescue Squadron and the 920th Operations Support Squadron. They operate the wing’s HH-60G Pave Hawks helicopters, HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, and Guardian Angel teams to support worldwide personnel recovery operations.
As the Air Force Reserve’s only combat search and rescue wing, the wing is comprised of more than 2,000 Airmen and civilian personnel that carry out the wing’s mission to plan, lead, and conduct military rescue operations and missions to deny competitors and adversaries exploitation of isolated personnel.