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Tappan takes command of Dyess' airlifters

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (USTCNS) --- The 317th Airlift Group welcomed Col. John Tappan as its new commander and bid farewell to Col. Douglas Miller during a change of command ceremony held here May 10.

Lt. Gen. Walter Hogle, 15th Air Force commander, officiated during the mid-morning ceremony and lauded the accomplishments of the group while under Miller's command as well as telling the group the future looked bright with Tappan taking the helm.

Miller and his wife Allison have been here since August 1998 and will move to Maxwell AFB, Ala., where Miller will become Air Mobility Command's chair to the Air University. Their son, Ryan, attends the Air Force Academy, and their daughter Chrissy graduates May 13 from the University of Central Arkansas.

Miller also mentioned many of the accomplishments of the group, but focused on the efforts of its' people to make it the best C-130 unit in Air Mobility Command.

"We proved we are the best at last year's airlift rodeo, and we are doing it again at Rodeo 2000," said Miller. "The key to this group is its' people. They consistently go above and beyond.

"We took delivery of the Air Force's first C-130 Hercules more than 45 years ago and have been the best in the Air Force at flying and maintaining the Hercules ever since," he said. "It has been an honor to have been your commander."

Tappan and his wife Sandra, both native Texans, return home with their children Brent, 20, and Jake, 17. The family was most recently stationed at MacDill AFB, Fla., where Tappan was the U.S. Transportation Command liaison officer to the commander of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command.

Tappan is a 1977 graduate of Texas Tech University. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduating from officer training school in 1979.

He attended navigator training at Mather AFB, Calif., after being commissioned. He is a master navigator with more than 3,000 flying hours, primarily in the C-130 Hercules. The 21-year veteran has served at numerous positions both in and out of the airlift community since beginning his Air Force career.

In addition to the bases already mentioned, he has served at Little Rock AFB, Ark.; Yokota AB, Japan; Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.; Maxwell AFB, Ala.; Pope AFB, N.C.; and Carlisle Barracks, Pa.

Tappan said he is glad to be back in Texas, and said he looks forward to commanding the 317th AG. He challenged the members of the group to live up to the Air Force Core Values of integrity, service and excellence.

"These are the qualities I live by and I challenge each of you to do the same," he said.

Tappan also thanked Hogle for selecting him to command the group and promised to do his best to continue the tradition of excellence in the 317th AG.

"I promise to give no less than 110 percent as the group's commander," he concluded. (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).

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