Mineo takes reins at 310th Space Wing

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott P. Farley
  • 310th Space Wing Public Affairs
Command of the 310th Space Wing, the Air Force Reserve Command's only space wing, changed on Sunday morning before a formation of Airmen, family and distinguished guests from around the Air Force and Colorado Springs community.

During the ceremony officiated by Maj. Gen. Frank J. Padilla, 10th Air Force commander, Col. Jeffrey T. Mineo assumed command of the 310th Space Wing from Col. Karen A. Rizzuti at the 302nd Airlift Wing hangar at Peterson Air Force Base. Colonel Rizzuti will become the vice commander of 10th Air Force.

General Padilla reminded the audience of the Chinese cure, 'May you live in interesting times," and explained that while it may seem like a curse for the 310th Space Wing to lose a commander of Colonel Rizzuti's caliber in this time of war and budget cuts, Colonel Mineo would be anything but a curse.

"I have no doubt that Sal Mineo is the right man to run and build on the accomplishments of the 310th Space Wing," said General Padilla, who compared Colonel Mineo replacing Colonel Rizzuti to Joe DiMaggio being replaced by Mick Mantle on the 1952 New York Yankees.

Colonel Mineo comes to Schriever Air Force Base from the 940th Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., where he was the wing commander.

He said he is excited for the new challenges of commanding a space wing and the diverse missions of the 310th Space Wing.

"I am more excited than ever to command this wing," said Colonel Mineo. "I will be flying higher than the wing I just left."

Colonel Mineo spoke about the growth in Air Force space missions and the importance of the Reserve command in space missions.
"There is explosive growth in space and a need for Reserve wings in space," said Colonel Mineo. "Let's raise the bar a little higher and let's get started."

Colonel Mineo becomes the third commander of the 310th Space Wing, which enters its third year as an Air Force wing. The wing consists of 16 units located at Schriever, Peterson and Buckley Air Force Bases in Colorado and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.