KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 403rd Wing welcomed a new commander during an assumption of command ceremony held on Aug. 3 at Keesler Air Force Base, where Col. Jaret Fish officially took command of the Air Force Reserve wing.
Presiding over the ceremony was Maj. General Frank Bradfield III, commander of 22nd Air Force, who praised Fish for his 21 years of military service and leadership, describing him as “the right leader to guide the 403rd Wing through the challenges ahead.”
“Col. Fish is no stranger to this wing—he’s served as the deputy commander and already demonstrated the kind of commitment and excellence we need in this role,” said Bradfield. “He brings experience, humility and purpose to everything he does, and I’m confident the 403rd Wing is in capable hands.”
Fish replaces Col. John Benson, who recently relinquished command as part of a routine reassignment. Due to the nature of Reserve assignments, the transition was marked by an assumption of command ceremony rather than a traditional change of command.
The 403rd Wing has over 1,500 Reserve Citizen Airmen and 20 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. The wing performs tactical airlift, airdrop, aeromedical evacuation and weather reconnaissance missions, including the Air Force Reserve’s only aerial weather reconnaissance squadron—the “Hurricane Hunters.”
Col. Jaret Fish assumes command of 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base
Col. Jaret Fish, newly appointed commander of the 403rd Wing, addresses Airmen, family, and friends during an assumption of command ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Aug. 3, 2025. Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield III, 22nd Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony and spoke to attendees, which included Fish’s family, fellow Reserve Citizen Airmen, and local community leaders.(U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt, Shelton Sherrill).
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Col. Jaret Fish assumes command of 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base
Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield III, commander of the 22nd Air Force, addresses Airmen, family, and friends during an assumption of command ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Aug. 3, 2025. Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield III, 22nd Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony and spoke to attendees, which included Fish’s family, fellow Reserve Citizen Airmen, and local community leaders.(U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt, Shelton Sherrill).
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Col. Jaret Fish assumes command of 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base
Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield III and Col. Jaret Fish, newly appointed commander of the 403rd Wing, stand at attention while the honor guard presents the U.S. flag during an assumption of command ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Aug. 3, 2025. Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield III, 22nd Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony and spoke to attendees, which included Fish’s family, fellow Reserve Citizen Airmen, and local community leaders.(U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt, Shelton Sherrill).
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Col. Jaret Fish assumes command of 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base
The 403rd Wing honor guard marches to the stage during an assumption of command ceremony for Col. Jaret Fish at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Aug. 3, 2025. Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield III, 22nd Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony and spoke to attendees, which included Fish’s family, fellow Reserve Citizen Airmen, and local community leaders.(U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt, Shelton Sherrill).
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Bradfield noted the wing's accomplishments in recent years, including over 4,700 flying hours across its two missions in 2024, 121 deployed Airmen, and global weather missions extending as far as Japan. He credited the wing’s efficiency and operational readiness to its dedicated personnel, only a fraction of whom serve full time.
During his remarks, Fish acknowledged the weight of the moment and thanked his family, colleagues and leadership, who were all in attendance, for their support.
“To the men and women of the 403rd Wing—you’re the reason I do this, and I am truly honored to lead you,” Fish said. “Our mission is clear: to provide combat-ready Airmen who are ready to answer the call at any moment.”
He also laid out his leadership priorities—readiness, development and transformation.
“Readiness is our number one priority,” he said. “We must be trained, equipped and postured to execute the mission. Second, we’ll focus on developing our Airmen—the future leaders of our force. And finally, we must transform—innovate and improve how we complete the mission to stay effective in an evolving world.”
Fish is a 2004 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Army War College. His aviation background includes instructor and evaluator experience with more than 2,500 flying hours in the C-21, KC-10, and C-40 aircraft. He has held numerous leadership roles across both active duty and Reserve components.
The ceremony concluded with a traditional first salute, signifying the official start of Fish’s tenure as commander of the 403rd Wing.
“We are ready now,” Fish said. “And we’re ready for what comes next.”
U.S. Air Force Col. Jaret Fish, commander of the 403rd Wing, receives the unit guidon from Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield III, 22nd Air Force commander, during an assumption of command ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Aug. 3, 2025. The ceremony marked the formal transfer of authority and responsibility to Fish as commander of the 403rd Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Jessee)