An F-35A Lightning II, assigned to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, takes off. (U.S. Air Force photo by Anthony Pham)

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419th Fighter Wing holds change of command

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  • 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, UT --  The 419th Fighter Wing came under new leadership following a change of command ceremony here Sunday.

Col. Walter "Buck" Sams assumed command of nearly 1,200 personnel assigned to Utah's only Air Force Reserve unit.

During his remarks, Colonel Sams spoke about the three words that would be cornerstones of his tenure as commander; sacrifice, determination and victory.

Colonel Sams, who has been the wing's vice commander for the past year, also spoke about his feelings upon taking command.

"My heart swells with pride to be associated with the greatest fighter wing in the Air Force," he said.

Prior to joining the wing as vice commander in June 2007, Colonel Sams, a Georgia native, was commander of the 307th Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB. He also served as an air liaison officer in Operation Desert Storm, and flew 234 combat hours in Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

Colonel Sams also served as an instructor pilot, weapons officer, standardization/evaluation flight examiner, branch chief on the ACC staff, cell chief in the Combined Air Operations Center, deputy commander of the Gulf Air Warfare Center, and airboss for Dubai International Air Show.

Relinquishing command was Minnesota native Brig. Gen. Gary Batinich, who has been selected to serve as the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Air Combat Command Air and Space Operations, Langley Air Force Base, Va.

General Batinich's departure ends a 21-year stint with the 419th Fighter Wing that began in July 1987 when he was a captain.

While speaking to the wing, General Batinich expressed appreciation for the work that wing members put in to their service as well as his pride at the wing's accomplishments and professionalism.

In 1999, General Batinich served as the commander of the wing's Operations Support flight and was named as commander of the 466th Fighter Squadron in 2000. In 2003, he was selected to serve as 419th FW vice commander and was named as commander in August 2004.

During his 21 years with the wing, General Batinich served as a traditional reservist, maintaining his civilian job as a commercial pilot for Delta Airlines where he flies the 757 and 767.