Freedom Wing welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Monica Ricci
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  U.S. Air Force Col. William Gutermuth became the 27th commander in the history of the 514th Air Mobility Wing Saturday. Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Pennington, commander of the Fourth Air Force, presided over the change of command ceremony, in which Col. Thomas O. Pemberton relinquished command after more than two years.
Gutermuth, a familiar face at the Freedom Wing, steps into his new role as wing commander after serving as the 514th Operations Group commander.

“Serving as a wing commander is a tremendous opportunity,” Gutermuth said. “It is an opportunity to support others. It is an opportunity to lift up Airmen to find ways to bring people together and accomplish more as partners and as a team. I want you to know that I care about each and every one of you in a real way. And I want to connect in a real way with as many Airmen as I can.”

Pemberton will go on to serve as the commander of the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana.

“I am proud to have been a part of the 514th Air Mobility Wing, and I look forward to seeing continued success from the men and women of the Freedom Wing,” Pemberton said.

Gutermuth expressed his gratitude to Pemberton as he prepares to pick up right where he left off.

“Sir, you’ve led the Airmen well,” he said. “I have been honored to serve under you and I appreciate so much that you have eased my transition and have helped me grow that final bit that I needed to transition from group to wing commander."