Photos

U.S. Air Force Col. Stuart L. Martin, 403rd Maintenance Group commander, receives his first salute from a 403rd MXG Airman during the change of command ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Sept. 6, 2025. The first salute tradition represents mutual respect and marks the official start of a commander’s leadership of a unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Jessee)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

U.S. Air Force Col. Stuart L. Martin, 403rd Maintenance Group commander, delivers remarks during the 403rd MXG change of command ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Sept. 6, 2025. Martin brings over 35 years of enlisted and officer experience to the position, including multiple deployments and prior command roles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Jessee)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

U.S. Air Force Col. Jaret T. Fish, 403rd Wing commander, passes the 403rd Maintenance Group guidon to Col. Stuart L. Martin, incoming 403rd Maintenance Group commander, during a change of command ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Sept. 6, 2025. Martin assumes command of more than 550 Airmen responsible for maintaining 20 C-130J and WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Jessee)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

A ceremonial cake is displayed during the 403rd Maintenance Group change of command ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Sept. 6, 2025. The cake-cutting tradition followed the ceremony in which Col. Stuart L. Martin assumed command of the group, marking a formal transition of leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Jessee)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Official photo of Col. Richard Konopczynski. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo).

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

U.S. Air Force reservists can be eligible for military tuition assistance that can potentially cover up to 100 percent of tuition and fees for eligible courses taken by Airmen at accredited institutions. The program is designed to support professional development and career advancement for Citizen Airmen. Please contact the 403rd Wing's education office for more information and to see if you qualify. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Emily Bloodworth).

ALPENA COMBAT READINESS TRAINING CENTER, Mich.

A U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 815th Airlift Squadron, taxis on the flight line during Exercise Northern Strike 25-2 (NS 25-2) at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Michigan, Aug. 8, 2025. NS 25-2 tested multi-component and partner forces through a challenging, realistic and dynamic scenario based on global security challenges and theoretical future conflicts. Northern Strike is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in an all-domain environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Robert Nichols)

ALPENA COMBAT READINESS TRAINING CENTER, Mich.

U.S. Army Reserve Soldier Staff Sgt. Michael Gray, a parachute rigger assigned to the 861st Quartermaster Company, Theater Aerial Delivery Company, steps out of a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules aircraft assigned to the 815th Airlift Squadron, at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Alpena, Michigan, Aug. 8, 2025. The 861st Quartermaster Company executed airborne operations including personnel parachute jumps, bundle drops, and heavy equipment airdrops during Northern Strike 25-2, Michigan’s premier reserve component training event focused on joint readiness, building interoperability, and strengthening partnerships in an all-domain environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Elise Wahlstrom)

ALPENA COMBAT READINESS TRAINING CENTER, Mich.

U.S. Airmen from various installations assigned to the 22nd Air Task Force disembark a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 815th Airlift Squadron, on the flight line during Exercise Northern Strike 25-2 (NS 25-2) at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Michigan, Aug. 8, 2025. NS 25-2 tested multi-component and partner forces through a challenging, realistic and dynamic scenario based on global security challenges and theoretical future conflicts. Northern Strike is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in an all-domain environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Robert Nichols)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Alex Boykin, instructor pilot with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, sketches Hurricane Sally at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Aug. 03, 2025. Boykin, who flew through the 2020 storm, drew the system’s spiral bands and eyewall structure to illustrate the challenges Hurricane Hunters face when navigating aircraft through severe weather. The artwork highlights how crews combine aviation skills, meteorological data and experience to safely complete missions that provide critical information to forecasters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Jessee)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Alex Boykin, instructor pilot with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, poses for a photo at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Aug. 03, 2025. Boykin is one of the pilots responsible for leading aircrews through some of the most dangerous flying conditions in the Air Force, including low-level tropical storm investigations and penetrations into the eyewalls of hurricanes. The data his crews collect is used by the National Hurricane Center to improve storm forecasts and save lives along the Gulf Coast and beyond. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Jessee)

KEESLER AIR FORCE Base, Miss.

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)

Photos