JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- More than 200 Joint Base Lewis-McChord servicemembers and South Sound residents came together March 4 to witness Col. Peter D. Stavros accept command of the Western Air Defense Sector from Col. Paul D. Gruver in a ceremony at the McChord Field Theater.

The Western Air Defense Sector is not a typical National Guard unit. It consists of personnel from the Washington Air National Guard, Army, Navy, Department of Defense civilians, contractors and Canadian Forces Air Command.

The combined organization exercises operational control of ANG fighter aircraft on continuous alert at several Guard bases throughout the continental United States.

Known as the "eye in the sky," WADS defends 73 percent of the country 24/7 providing peacetime air sovereignty, strategic air defense and airborne counter-drug operations. That mission incorporates more than 3,300 miles of the nation's borders and 2.7 million miles of countryside, from Canada to Mexico, extending to the Pacific Ocean. At any moment, WADS can scramble F-15s or F-16s to neutralize unknown or enemy aircraft.

Unique to Guard units, the sector commander is the only full-time Washington Air National Guardsman under Title 10 orders, which provides specific Congressional authority to his role and responsibilities.

The ceremony ended Gruver's five-year command tour, but he said he loved every one of his 1,757 days in the job.

"You people rocked," Gruver said to his staff, emotion in his voice. "You are the most amazing professionals I have ever had the honor to serve with."

The ceremony's focus was the passing of the unit colors from Gruver to Stavros. But their boss, Maj. Gen. Garry C. Dean, commander of the Continental United States North America Aerospace Defense Command Region and commander, 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern), said that the true change of command would come when Gruver hands over the commander's Blackberry in a secret ceremony.

Stavros comes to McChord Field after serving as the vice commander for the 159th Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans. He has 3,600 flight hours in the F-15 Eagle, and was named the Air Education and Training Command's most outstanding F-15 instructor during his time there.

Washington National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Timothy J. Lowenberg gave high praise to the new commander of the sector.

"There's no doubt he is up to leading a superior organization in the mission of air sovereignty, command and control and homeland defense," Lowenberg said. "We are extremely fortunate to have someone of your caliber to be able to take on the reins and responsibilities of the Western Air Defense Sector."

Stavros and his family might be changing football allegiances along with duty locations; thanks to the Seattle Seahawks' win over the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs, he hinted that might be changing teams after receiving a round of applause for donning a Seahawks hat on the podium.

"I am proud to be chosen to lead such a team dedicated to keeping our country safe," Stavros said about his own team of Air Force professionals. Stavros's predecessor leaves a legacy of five years of accomplishments in WADS.

"(Gruver) is one of the best critical thinkers I've ever worked with," Dean said. "When you look at our nation and the things that we face now, that's exactly what we need for our future leadership."

Gruver won't be going far away, having accepted a position at Camp Murray as the director of the joint staff at the Joint Force Headquarters. With the job might come a promotion to brigadier general, Lowenberg announced at the ceremony.

"Paul, thank you for a job extremely well done," the AG said.

There are a number of highlights among Gruver's accomplishments as the WADS commander:

· WADS received high marks from the North American Aerospace Defense Command Inspector General inspection, reconfirming it as "the nation's premier air defense sector," Lowenberg said.

· The unit received the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award in 2010.

· The Sector Operations Control Center received funds for a million-dollar renovation.

· WADS worked with its Canadian counterparts to keep the 2010 Winter Olympics safe for participants and fans who visited.

"The historic level of mission execution of that mission was one of the most highly visible events," Lowenberg said.

· WADS earned the best unit-compliance inspection grade given by the Inspector General in the past two years to any active, Reserve or Guard unit, and the best grade given to a National Guard unit in Air Combat Command in more than seven years.

"You (succeeded) by pulling for each other rather than at each other," Gruver said. "You all continue to embody the militia spirit of bonds forged for a common defense."