Col. Andrew J. Babiarz assumed command of the 552nd Air Control Group during a ceremony May 15 in Dock 2 at the 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

Col. Kenneth Voigt, Jr, 552nd ACW commander, presided over the ceremony.

“Hazard [Babiarz], you are no stranger to America’s Wing or the Air Control Group,” said Voigt. “We are ecstatic to have you back on our team.”

Voigt spoke about the Great Power Competition in the Indo-Pacific region, and the ever-present dangers to our homeland are constant reminders of how dangerous this world can be.

“Hazard, my charge to you is simple,” said Voigt. “Lead our Airmen so they are ready to deter the pacing challenge, and ready to respond if deterrence fails. Build our future mobile ground-based battle management and command and control capacity and strengthen the resiliency of our team and their families. You are the right leader to lead in these consequential times.”

Prior to returning to America’s Wing, Babiarz served as the chief, Competitive Activities Division, Checkmate, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. where he led a team of air and space power strategists in various projects to improve America’s competitive advantage.

“There is a lot of change in our Air Force…force re-organization, new deployment models with a focus on mission command, modernizing equipment and so on. But none of that is new to this group,” said Babiarz. “You have been on the bow wave of change for several years now. As for mission command, that is what command and control is all about! We will continue to train hard while taking care of each other. I know there is no challenge we cannot overcome.”

Babiarz concluded by thanking the late Col. Alan Bruce ‘Munch’ Avriett, adding it is clear that Avriett left some pretty big shoes to fill.

The 552 ACG consists of the 552d Air Control Networks Squadron and 752d Operational Support Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, as well as the 726 Air Control Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, ID, and the 729th Air Control Squadron, Hill AFB, UT. The ACG has been a critical part of the Wing’s ability to answer the Nation’s call. The group has been continuously deployed providing premier battle management of the air domain in combat environments throughout its existence.