31st Fighter Wing commander passes the torch

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katherine Windish
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  "Sir, I assume command," said Brig. Gen. Scott Zobrist upon formally taking the reins of the 31st Fighter Wing from former commander, Brig. Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr. during a change of command ceremony April 22.

The ceremony was officiated by Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc, 3rd Air Force commander, and narrated in Italian and English to accommodate the language of the host nation.

"I believe that change in leadership is healthy for any unit because change in leadership and the anxieties that often arise compel everyone to reexamine themselves, their role and their contribution to the mission," said General Gorenc. "Many times the changes that take place as a result of this reexamination will drive the unit to even higher levels of performance."

General Gorenc also took the time to laud General Brown's accomplishments while in command.

"When he took command, General Brown was empowered to lead his unit as he saw fit," the general said. "Wisely he focused on the mission and the well-being of his Airmen. He worked with our allies to execute the mission. Well, he did it all - he did it in a superb manner."

General Gorenc also expressed his confidence that General Zobrist will continue to lead the 31st FW to success.

"The challenges are enormous, but I know you are eager and confident," General Gorenc continued. "You should be confident because you will have the help of the [men and women of the] 31st Fighter Wing, who are simply superb."

Upon taking the guidon and assuming command of the wing, General Zobrist said he is proud and humbled to be the 31st FW commander.

"I will do everything within my power to ensure you have the tools to do your job, the training to execute your mission, and the support you need for your family," General Zobrist said. "It is truly an honor and a privilege to command the 31st Fighter Wing. I look forward to serving with each and every one of you."

General Zobrist comes to the 31st FW from the 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where he also served as commander. The University of Southern California distinguished graduate commissioned into the U.S. Air Force after completing the school's ROTC program in 1986. He was also a distinguished graduate from Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, where he was assigned to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon. General Zobrist is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours.

This is the general's third tour in Aviano. During his speech, he remarked on the changes he has been privileged to see since his first tour in the 1990s.

"We have watched Aviano grow from the tent city it was in Operation Deliberate Force in the 1990s to the world-class air base it is now in 2011," General Zobrist said. "There is no doubt about the strategic importance of Aviano and this has been validated time and time again. With the support of our Italian hosts, Aviano Air Base has been used at least three times in the last 20 years to support major operations in support of U.S. and NATO objectives ... [all having] major impacts on our world. Who knows what the future holds, but I know that we will be ready."

During the ceremony General Brown also praised Team Aviano's professionalism in accomplishing the mission.

"You may have heard me say, 'success takes help, failure you can do all alone,'" General Brown said. "I have been blessed to have worked with a countless number of outstanding Airmen - enlisted, officer and civilian, over the years. The past two years have been no exception."

General Brown paused his speech to the sound of F-16 Fighting Falcons taking off, which the general said was proof of the wing's ever constant mission.

"I'm going to miss that sound," he said.

General Brown leaves the 31st FW to take up his new postion as deputy director of operations, Headquarters U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

The ceremony concluded with General Zobrist receiving his first salute as commander of the 31st FW and the unveiling of his name on an F-16 Fighting Falcon, representing the wing's flagship, which is currently supporting contingency operations.