Ops group welcomes new commander Published Aug. 8, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Crystal Charriere 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Hill Air Force Base, Utah -- Col. Bryan Cook assumed command of the 419th Operations Group during a ceremony here Sunday. Prior to taking this assignment, he served as the 301st Operations Support Flight commander at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth Texas. Cook is a command pilot with more than 2,900 total flying hours, including 2,600 hours in the F-16. He was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1989 from the Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tenn. He earned his pilot wings in 1990. Col Keith Knudson, 419th FW commander, spoke during the ceremony, lauding Cook's exceptional leadership. "I believe Col. Cook will show us what it truly means to be a leader," he said.