Colonel Young assumes command of 512th Operations Group

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 512th Airlift Wing
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Lt. Col. Darrell G. Young assumed command of the 512th Operations Group from Col. Don W. Sloan May 7 at the Air Mobility Command Museum. 

Colonel Young, who was the deputy commander of the 349th Operations Group, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., pinned on colonel May 14. 

Colonel Sloan’s retirement ceremony was May 6 at the AMC Museum where he was presented with the Legion of Merit, the seventh highest military decoration. He retired May 11 after 33 years of service. 

“I’m very honored to take command of this group,” said Colonel Young after the passing of the flag. “There is no other place I’d rather be and no other group I’d rather command, and we will continue to fly, fight and win.” 

More than 200 people gathered in the museum, surrounded by static displays of historic aircraft. 512th OG Deputy Commander Maj. Louis Patriquin’s wife, Jerri-Lynn, sang the national anthem. 

Col. David H. Wuest, 512th Airlift Wing vice commander, presided over the ceremony. He lauded both Colonels Sloan and Young and their families for their accomplishments.
“It’s often been said that if you take care of your people they will take care of the mission,” he said. “In order to do this, give them the best unit commanders possible.” 

Colonel Young was 512th AW Commander Col. Ronald A. Rutland’s first choice for the job, said Colonel Wuest. 

“We are fortunate that he will be with us to face the many challenges ahead,” said the vice commander who welcomed Colonel Young, his wife Dawn, and their seven children to the 512th AW. 

Colonel Young joined the Air Force in 1984. After graduating Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., in 1985, he was stationed at Travis AFB. In 1987, he moved to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, to be an instructor pilot with the 89th Flying Training Squadron. He separated from active duty in 1991, and joined the Air Force Reserve in 1993 and became a member of the 349th Airlift Wing at Travis. He was activated for Operation Enduring Freedom from February 2003 to February 2004. The colonel is a command pilot with more than 3,900 hours in the T-37, T-38, C-141B and C-5. 

Colonel Young greeted the audience and said he looked forward to meeting his counterparts in the 512th AW and 436th Airlift Wing. 

“We have a lot of challenges to face in the near future, and I ask you to be creative and adaptable to change,” said Colonel Young to his unit members. 

He summed up his leadership philosophy with a quote by President Ronald Reagan. 

“Surround yourself with the best people, delegate authority, and let them do their job,” he said. 

“I will work tirelessly on your behalf so we can get the job done,” said the new 512th OG commander. 

Prior to Colonel Sloan relinquishing command to Colonel Young, Colonel Wuest thanked Colonel Sloan for his service. 

“Colonel Sloan has distinguished himself as a fine leader,” he said. “We can’t know the events that can bring about profound changes in our lives, but Colonel Sloan has handled them well.” 

Colonel Sloan then addressed his operators one last time as their commander and reflected on his five years as commander. 

The Operations Desert Storm and Shield veteran assumed command of the 512th OG in August 2001. Since then, his operators participated in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as well as flew humanitarian relief missions in support of the Tsunami in Indonesia, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf region, and the earthquake in Pakistan. He also oversaw the initial transition into the C-5 Avionics Modernization Program, which incorporates a “glass cockpit” with digital avionics. 

“It’s often been said that the 512th Operations Group is the best group in the Air Force,” said Colonel Sloan who has flown over 13,000 hours in the C-141A/B and the C-5. “But, you can’t do it by yourself.” 

He thanked his unit members and Team Dover for their support. 

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of the 512th Operations Group. I can only try,” he said. “Blue skies and tail winds my friends.”