KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 403rd Security Forces Squadron received a new commander as Lt. Col. Charles Edward Gates Jr. relinquished command of the squadron to Lt. Col. James A. Coleman during a change of command ceremony, Dec. 5, 2020 at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi.
The change of command ceremony was presided over by Lt. Col. Reginald G. Trujillo, 403rd Mission Support Group commander.
Trujillo praised the leadership of Gates and presented him with a Meritorious Service Award during the ceremony.
“It’s truly bitter-sweet for me, but I go knowing that the 403rd SFS is in good hands with Lt. Col. Coleman who has a wealth of experience,” said Gates, who led the 403rd SFS for two years and described the command as an exceptional experience.
Trujillo listed Coleman’s experience, which has prepared him to command the 403rd SFS.
Coleman was the Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Deputy Chief of Security Forces, Directorate of Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection, Air Combat Headquarters, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
“The 403rd Security Forces Squadron has a very unique scope of responsibilities with the weather missions that we have, as well as, some of the other support missions too,” said Coleman. “This is a wonderful opportunity for me to work in the ‘Wing of Choice’ while also leading great people in the missions they perform.”