62nd Airlift Wing changes command

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • Staff writer
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Col. Kevin Kilb assumed command of the 62nd Airlift Wing from Col. Jeffrey Stephenson during a change of command ceremony today in Hangar 4. 

Colonel Stephenson has been appointed as Chief of Staff of the Air Force Chair, National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 

"Team McChord extends a warm welcome to Colonel Kilb and his family," said Col. Michael Hornitschek, 62nd Airlift Wing vice commander. "Colonel Kilb is a strong leader who will take this wing through an extremely successful Joint Base transition, continuing our mission from the largest combat projection platform in the Defense Department.

"We also wish the very best to Colonel Stephenson and his family," said Colonel Hornitschek. "It's been an honor serving with him, and his leadership has been pivotal to the excellence and success this wing is noted for across our Air Force."

Colonel Kilb comes to McChord from Headquarters Air Force Washington D.C., Chief, Global Mobility Division and Chair, Global Mobility Panel, Directorate of Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs. In this capacity, Colonel Kilb assured adequate resources were programmed or budgeted for the following forces: Strategic, Theater, Operational Support, and Special Air Mission airlift; Air Refueling; Aeromedical Evacuation; weather service and special operations forces. Prior to the assignment, Colonel Kilb was a course officer at the National War College.

During his distinguished career he has served as commander of the 374th Operations Group at Yokota AB, Japan; installation commander and commander of the 407th Air Expeditionary Group at Ali AB, Iraq; and deputy commander of the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Dhafra AB, UAE.

Colonel Kilb entered the Air Force in 1989 as a graduate of the ROTC program at the University of Arizona. He is a command pilot with more than 3,600 hours with experience in the C-17A, KC-10A Extender, C-130E/H Hercules, C-21A Learjet and UH-1N Huey helicopter.