Guidon passed to new 512th Maintenance Group Commander

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Steve Lewis
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Lt. Col. Alan H. Lerner took command of the 512th Maintenance Group during an assumption of command ceremony Aug. 4 at the Air Mobility Command Museum. 

Colonel Lerner replaces Col. Willie W. Cooper II, who will be the new group commander for the 440th Maintenance Group at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. 

Presiding over the ceremony was 512th Airlift Wing Commander Col. Randal L. Bright, who spoke to the group of family, friends and servicemembers about Colonel Lerner's background and what the future will be like for the maintenance group. 

"Colonel Lerner was taken from a deeply-rooted Reserve unit and has a phenomenal track record," he said. "We couldn't have picked a better person." 

In response to Colonel Bright's remarks, Colonel Lerner spoke about the opportunities to work alongside of the active-duty's 436th Maintenance Group and with the local Dover community. 

"We have to keep pushing our relationships," he said. "There's a tremendous mission here and a tremendous opportunity to get involved." 

In his final remarks of the ceremony, Colonel Bright charged the new maintenance group commander with the task of raising the standard. He said he looks for Colonel Lerner to take it to the next level. 

"If you challenge your people, they will impress you," he said. 

Colonel Lerner comes to Dover from the 913th Maintenance Group at Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pa.