460th Mission Support Group welcomes new commander

Published June 8, 2007
By Senior Airman Jacque Lickteig
460th Space Wing Public Affairs

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The 460th Mission Support Group welcomed its new commander during a change of command ceremony at the 460th Space Wing headquarters building June 8.

Col. Bart Hedley, who hailed from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., where he was the HQ Air Force Space Command Civil Engineer Flight commander, accepted command of the 460th MSG from outgoing Col. Steven Muhs, who is retiring after 26 years of service in the Air Force.

During his command, Colonel Muhs lead a $172 million military construction program that brought the first seven of 18 new facilities to Buckley, among other accomplishments for the group.

"Not a single mission support group commander in the 55 bases in the continental United States has done more for building a base," 460th SW Commander Col. David Ziegler said.

"The true essence of a leader is the heart that comes with the commander," he said, commenting about how he saw that heart in Colonel Muhs when the departing MSG commander helped paint Buckley's Dorm Theater.

Colonel Muhs offered thanks to everyone who made his command a successful one and said he's excited to see what going to happen at Buckley over the next two years.

After assuming command at the ceremony, Colonel Hedley shared his leadership philosophy with the audience members.

"It's quite simple," he said. "If you take the first letter of the alphabet and multiply it by three, you have it. Assurance ... attitude and agility ... and Airmen."

He said assurance is a huge part of his philosophy; assuring Buckley's satellites are up and running 24/7, assuring the F-16s are running to support their mission, assuring Buckley's 88,000 customers are taken care of and assuring Buckley's Airmen are prepared to deploy.

"Attitude is everything," he also said. "Success in customer service starts with a smile."
Before closing out his speech, Colonel Hedley said Airmen are the most important resources in the Air Force, and he will strive to meet their needs during his command.

Colonel Hedley's major awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three valor devices, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with one device, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal and the Bronze de Fluery Medal.

460th MSG welcomes new commander