Griffin takes command

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The 436th Airlift Wing held a Change of Command ceremony Aug. 5, 2016, inside Hangar 706, on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Col. Michael Grismer relinquished command to Col. Ethan Griffin in a ceremony officiated by Brig. Gen. Patrick Mordente, 18th Air Force vice commander.

A formation of more than 300 Airmen from the 436th AW and an audience of more than 400 witnessed the ceremony; notable distinguished visitors included the State of Delaware’s Congressional Delegation, the Mayor of Dover and the State of Delaware’s Adjutant General.

“This is a great day; this is a celebration,” Mordente said. “To the men and women of the 436th, keep doing great things; we need your best and we need it every day.”

The 436th AW operates a fleet of 18 C-5M Super Galaxy and 13 C-17A Globemaster III airlifters, representing 20 percent of the nation’s out-sized airlift capacity, providing worldwide movement of high-priority personnel and cargo. The wing employs approximately 3,200 active duty Airmen, spread out across four groups, their subordinate 17 squadrons and the wing staff agencies.

Prior to this new assignment, Griffin was the 62nd Airlift Wing vice commander, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

“A very warm, special thanks to the many family and close friends, both personal and professional, that have joined us today from distance or in spirit,” said Griffin during his speech. “From our childhood days through today, you’ve played a vital role in our lives. We’re so happy that this event will afford not only your reunions, but the uniting of our civilian and military patriots.”

Griffin, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, graduated as a ROTC Distinguished Graduate from the University of Virginia in 1994. He has commanded at the squadron- level, both in-garrison and deployed, served on wing and Headquarters Air Force staffs, and performed instructor and evaluator duties in the C-17. He is also a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from the George Washington University in 2001. He is a command pilot with more than 3,300 flying hours.

“So men and women, friends and partners of the 436th Airlift Wing, I ask you to join me in continued growth for our community amidst safe and excellent mission execution,” said Griffin. “Together we’ll continue to make the ‘Dover Experience’ purpose-filled and memorable for all.”

The outgoing commander, Grismer, had nothing but praise for his successor.

“Team Dover is gaining an amazing leader in Col. Ethan Griffin,” said Grismer. “He is absolutely the best commander for this wing and I know you will welcome him, his wife Erin and their three sons.”

As Grismer handed off the wing colors, ending his command, he also ended his Air Force career of more than 26 years of active service, in addition to his four years at the Air Force Academy. He began his career as a civil engineering officer before graduating from Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training. Grismer is a rated command pilot with 4,600 flight hours logged. His flight experiences include eight different aircrafts including the C-5A/B/C/M and C-17A. His retirement ceremony took place later that day at the Air Mobility Command Museum.

“My family and I can hardly believe two years have gone by since our arrival to Dover,” said Grismer. “We have truly been blessed to be part of Team Dover, and our local community. It is with heavy hearts for us to say goodbye to each of you. You are an amazing team; you deliver excellence in Rapid Global Mobility, to protect our American way of life in a way nobody else can.”