Col. Molineux assumes command of 6th OG

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bryan Gatewood
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Colonel Matt Molineux assumed command of the 6th Operations Group in a ceremony here June 13 from Col. James "Slim" Morgan. Colonel Lenny Richoux, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander presided over the ceremony.

"I'm very honored to serve in the 6th Operations Group. The unit has an outstanding reputation for professional and dedicated Airmen who never fail to get the job done," said Colonel Molineux. "I take my appointment as their commander as a sacred trust placed in me by Colonel Richoux, his commanders, and ultimately, the moms and dads, brothers and sisters, spouses and loved ones who expect me to take care of those Airmen and their families. Being the commander is not about me -- it's about the 6th OG Airmen and the Air Force I work for."

Colonel Morgan will be retiring from the Air Force after 26 years of dedicated service.

Colonel Molineux is coming to MacDill from Kadena Air Base, Japan where he served as the 18th Operations Group deputy commander. As the new 6th OG commander he expects everyone to embrace and live by the Air Force core values of Integrity, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do.

"We will set priorities in the three areas of performance, personnel and processes within the group to accomplish our mission in the most effective and efficient way we can, but this can only come from centering ourselves with strong values," said the colonel.

During his first commander's call, the colonel said, he "will set some expectations with respect to the our objectives, professionalism, compliance, and fitness, but most importantly, I will re-emphasize the role each of us plays in the overall world-wide contingency and engagement efforts we participate in."

Colonel Molineux is a command pilot with more than 3,700 flying hours, including 400 combat support and 75 combat hours. He has flown the T-37, T-38, KC-135R/T, KC-135RT, EC-135Y/N and E-3C.

When asked how he likes Tampa, Colonel Molineux said, "I've come home! Tori and I look forward to engaging with the group, Team MacDill, and the Tampa community. All of those relationships are thriving and this is vital to maximizing our combat capability. We can't be successful without engaging Airmen and their families, Air Force civilians, our Reserve partners, and the civilian community."

He and his wife, Tori, are from this area and were stationed here from 1997 to 2000 flying with the 91st Air Refueling Squadron as well as a tour of duty as the 6th Air Refueling Wing executive officer.

Colonel Molineux graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Affairs. He has also participated in Operations Desert Calm, Provide Comfort, Restore Hope, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn.

Colonel Molineux's full biography can be found on the MacDill website at http://www.macdill.af.mil/library/biographies/index.asp