48th Fighter Wing gains new commander

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Dobrydney
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Col. John Quintas took command of the 48th Fighter Wing here during a June 14 ceremony officiated by Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc, 3rd Air Force commander.

"I take the responsibility of command very seriously," Colonel Quintas said after he received the wing guidon from General Gorenc. "I am entrusted with our nation's greatest asset, it's young men and women."

Colonel Quintas served as the 48th Operations Group commander here for the last two years. He thanked Col. Jay Silveria, former wing commander, for helping him prepare to take charge.

"It's truly humbling to stand here before you, before this historic, prestigious and dedicated organization, the 48th Fighter Wing," Colonel Quintas said.

As the U.S. Air Forces in Europe's only F-15 fighter wing, RAF Lakenheath brings unique air combat capabilities to the fight, such as the most advanced Joint Direct Attack Munitions used by the F-15E. Lakenheath provides all-weather, day or night air superiority and air-to-ground precision combat capability and multi-staged improvement program avionics.

In addition, the wing houses HH-60G combat search and rescue helicopters and provides a worldwide rapidly deployable combat rescue and reaction force as well as long-range rescue, humanitarian assistance, non-combatant evacuation and disaster relief capability for U.S. European Command and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Colonel Silveria was selected for promotion to brigadier general. He will move to Langley Air Force Base, Va., where he will be inspector general for Air Combat Command.