Holmes gets command of 4th Wing
By Sam Atkins
Published in News on August 16, 2004 2:04 PM
The 4th Fighter Wing welcomed Col. James Holmes today as its new commander.
"This opportunity to work with you is truly my dream come true," Holmes said during today's ceremony at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. "All of you are literally my heroes.
"It is an honor to serve with you on this great team."
Brig. Gen. Rick Rosborg has been the 4th Fighter Wing commander since August 2002. His new assignment will be special assistant for warfighting headquarters implementation, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff, at the Pentagon.
"We are very proud of the achievements you have made; you have met every challenge head on," Rosborg told the wing.
"The opportunity to lead this great wing is a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Rosborg commanded the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing last year during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The wing had a total of 148 aircraft in eight squadrons and 6,500 airmen. Seymour Johnson contributed 48 F-15Es and around 1,900 airmen to the wing.
He received the 2004 Moller Trophy this month, which is the top wing commander award from Air Combat Command. During the change of command ceremony, Rosborg received the Legion of Merit Award.
Holmes comes to Seymour Johnson from commanding the 14th Operations Group at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. This is his first assignment at Seymour Johnson.
The 14th Operations Group conducts pilot training for the U.S. Air Force and international officers, using a fleet of T-37, T-38 and T-1 aircraft and flight simulators, said the base's Web site.
Holmes' command includes six squadrons and over 1,700 officers, civilians, enlisted personnel and contractors. He entered the Air Force through Officer's Training School in 1981 and is a command pilot with over 3,000 flying hours in the F-15.
His other assignments include serving as chief of the Strategy, Concepts and Doctrine Division at Air Force Headquarters; commander of the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va.; and air operations officer and crisis action planner, Operations Directorate, Headquarters, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany.
His major awards and decorations include Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Army Commendation Medal; and Air Force Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters.