OG welcomes new commander Published June 1, 2013 By Staff Report 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Hill Air Force Base, Utah -- Col. Brian Silkey assumed command of the 419th Operations Group from Col. Bryan Cook during a change of command ceremony here Friday. Prior to taking the stick as the OG commander, Silkey served as commander for the 84th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Silkey is a 1989 graduate of Texas A&M University's ROTC program with a bachelor's degree in business management. He earned his wings in 1991 and is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours, including 189 in combat. He served on active duty for about 10 years before joining the Air Force Reserve in 2000. Silkey was assigned to Hill AFB's active duty 388th Fighter Wing from 1994 to 1997. Cook, who served as the OG commander since August 2011, will now go on to fill the position of vice commander for the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center in Tucson, Ariz.