58th SOW welcomes new commander

Published June 28, 2016
By Kendahl Johnson
Kirtland Public Affairs

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The 58th Special Operations Wing welcomed a new commander at a change of command ceremony here June 27.

Col. Brenda Cartier took the helm of the wing. Cartier comes to Kirtland from Hurlburt Field, Florida, where she was vice commander of the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center.

"I'm honored and humbled to be your commander," Cartier told the Airmen of the wing.

She said her direction is to build upon four pillars: instruct, inspire, imagine and innovate.

"Together, we will continue to instruct combat students and prepare warriors. We will inspire new and outstanding Airmen in training and operations here so they can inspire confidence and victory abroad," she said. "Imagine the possibilities given the incredibly talented Airmen and awesome machines we have. And innovate to put it all together to turn imagination into reality and achieve new levels of combat power.

Cartier has deployed in support of U.S. Special Operations Command missions worldwide including combat missions in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. She is a master navigator with more than 4,000 flight hours in the T-43, T-37, E-3B/C, MC-130H/W, and AC-130U.

Cartier replaces Col. Dagvin Anderson, who has commanded the unit since his arrival in July 2014. He has been given an overseas assignment, and will be the special assistant to the commander, U.S. Forces Korea, at Yongsan Garrison, Republic of Korea.

Maj. Gen. James Hecker, 19th Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony. He shared his appreciation to Anderson for his service as the wing commander, and expressed his confidence in Cartier as the new commander.

"I can think of no better person for the job," he said.