SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The 379th Space Range Squadron held a change of command ceremony at its facility in Colorado Springs, June 19.
Lt. Col. Sheila Wilds relinquished command of the squadron to Lt. Col. Elizabeth Paget with Col. Todd Tobergte presiding over the ceremony. Tobergte is the 926th Operations Group commander, which the 379th SRS falls under.
The 60 Reserve Citizen Airmen of the 379th SRS operate the Department of Defense’s only electronic warfare Space Test and Training Range. They provide a wide range of DoD agencies with safe and secure environments to support space test, training, exercise activities, and space control tactics development. The unit’s lineage dates back to 1942 when its original designation was the 379th Bombardment Squadron conducted operations during World War II using the B-25J Mitchell.
Wilds thanked her squadron and praised the accomplishments of its people during her command.
“In 2019 we had a 139 percent increase on the outside in the amount of support the (Air Force) Reserve provided to the range—almost 7,000 hours,” she said. “On the mission assurance side, we had the largest deployment of equipment in history of the Space Test and Training Range. That was 34 tons of equipment and a mixed crew of 58 reservists, contractors and active duty across three different countries. That stands as a testament to everything our unit knows how to do. I couldn’t be more proud of this unit. The 379th is amazing.”
Paget said she was honored to take command of the unit and is looking forward to taking care of its members.
“I am so excited to lead such a professional organization, but I am aware I will need to earn that right and privilege every single day,” said Paget. “I’ve seen the sacrifices each and every one of you makes on a daily basis to accomplish the mission here and you have my pledge that I will work my very hardest to take care of you.”
Prior to taking command of the squadron, Paget was the senior military advisor to the Space Integration Branch, Chairman of the Joint’s Chiefs of Staff J-8 at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. She was responsible for formulating position and advising on program viability to close capability gaps and validate key capability requirements.