Local active duty Air Force unit welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By TSgt Shawn David McCowan
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  Lt. Col. Jeffrey Cunningham became commander of Detachment 457 during a ceremony October 3 at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas. 

Detachment 457 is an active associate unit assigned to the Air Force Reserve's 301st Fighter Wing.  The administrative component of the unit is attached to the 495th Fighter Group, an active duty organization located at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.  Colonel James McCune, 495th Fighter Group commander, presided over the ceremony.

NAS Fort Worth JRB -- formerly Carswell AFB -- made history by becoming the world's first joint base.  This detachment adds to the base's long history by bringing an active duty Air Force unit into an Air Force Reserve wing.  Colonel Cunningham realizes the significance of this new endeavor.

"The way of the future is to meld these two worlds together, and to share our resources," said Cunningham.

Cunningham also welcomed the assignment as a homecoming.

"My parents live here, and most of my mom's family lives in the local area, so I'm excited to be here with family."

While the new mission and assignment may bring new challenges, Cunningham said he was more than ready to make history.

"I'm excited to be here, and looking forward to get things started."