351st EARS change of command

  • Published
  • By U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Christopher Mesnard
  • 100 Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST EUROPE --  The 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron had a change of command April 15, 2013, here, amid a reduction in air-to-air refueling support the unit has provided French operations in Mali.

The outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Heather Baldwin, passed command of the forward-deployed squadron to Lt. Col. Timothy Kuehne, both from the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, England.

On Jan. 26, 2013, the 351st EARS stood up under Baldwin's supervision as a forward operating location for the 100th ARW and their refueling support for French fighter aircraft over Mali. The unit underwent a short-notice deployment when conflicts in the North African nation escalated and France began flying close-air-support sorties for ground troops in Mali.

"I pretty much deployed within 30 hours of being notified I was coming down here," Baldwin explained. "So when we hit the ground it was a bomb-burst of activity. It was all amazing to me how quickly everything fell into place."

Within six hours of the three initial KC-135 Stratotankers touching down, the 351st was ready to fly air-to-air refueling missions for the French.

During their three months here, Baldwin's people offloaded more than seven million pounds of fuel to the French allowing them to provide troops on the ground with around-the-clock aerial support. The unit also boasts a stellar 98 percent mission effectiveness since its arrival.

"The only thing I wish I could change is to be able to be here through the end, to see it all out," said the Savage, Minn. native on the change of command.

The incoming commander is no stranger to the people of the 351st. Kuehne is the 351st Air Refueling Squadron commander at RAF Mildenhall, England, and looks to maintain Baldwin's and her team's successes.

"Col. Baldwin and her team did an awesome job of getting the mission set up down here," said Kuehne. "They've been doing an outstanding job since the end of January and I'm looking forward to continuing their success here."