MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A small gathering looks on in anticipation as Col. Daniel Tulley, commander of the 6th Air Mobility Wing (AMW), taxis a KC-135 Stratotanker toward them on the flightline at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, June 28, 2016.
It is a special occasion because this is the final flight Tulley will take at MacDill as he prepares to relinquish command of the 6th AMW on July 8.
Tulley’s wife, Holly, and two daughters, Annie and Emma, patiently wait as Emma marshals the aircraft her father is piloting.
As the tanker comes to a halt, the crowd sees Tulley’s smiling face from the cockpit. His wife and daughters ready themselves as he disembarks the aircraft. A sudden waterfall comes down on Tulley’s head as he descends the ladder and his wife and children exuberantly begin spraying him with water and champagne.
Still all smiles, a drenched Tulley shakes hands and gives out hugs to the group and squadron commanders, friends and other military personnel in attendance before offering his remarks.
“I can’t say enough great things about the people in this wing,” says Tulley. “It’s amazing to fly here on my last flight wearing the patch of the 91st, the same patch I wore during my first flight on a KC-135 when I got to Castle AFB back in 1994.”
Before concluding, Tulley expresses his gratitude to MacDill and the Wing for his time in command and to those who attended his final flight.
“I very much appreciate everyone for coming out,” says Tulley. “I am thrilled to be a part of this organization. You guys are the best.”
The 6th AMW change of command will be held in hangar 3 on July 8.