Wright assumes command of 460th SW

  • Published
  • 460th Space Wing
Col. Daniel D. Wright III, 460th Space Wing commander, assumed command of the 460th SW from Col. Dan A. Dant, who served as the commander since July 2011, during a change-of-command ceremony June 28 on base.

During the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, 14th Air Force commander, officially passed the wing's guidon from Dant to Wright, symbolizing the transition of leadership.

"To all the Airmen, from airman basic to GS-14: you do the real work for this wing and thank you for your service," Dant said during his closing remarks. "I don't say that lightly, the examples speak for themselves."

Wright previously led the Space Operations Group at Aerospace Data Facility--Southwest.

"To the men and women of the 460th Space Wing, it is my honor to return (to Buckley, this time as your wing commander)," Wright said shortly after he assumed command. "You have my commitment to give you my best everyday as we work side by side to do what we do best, which is to defend this nation."

A 1990 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Wright has served in a variety of space operation, acquisition and staff assignments associated with weather, early warning and intelligence systems.

Throughout his career, he has served three times in the Front Range, first completing undergraduate space training at former Lowry AFB in 1990. From November 1993 to July 1996, Wright was the chief of standardization and evaluation in the 2nd Space Warning Squadron at Buckley. In 2005, he came back to command the 2nd SWS, playing an integral role in the wing's operational mission.

In addition to providing space-based missile warning and awareness for combatant commands across the globe, the 460th SW also serves as the host unit of Buckley AFB and its approximately 80 partner organizations.

Before departing the ceremony Wright vowed to dedicate his time to carry out the wing's vision statement, which is to be "America's premier space wing delivering unrivaled space operations and installation support for the Nation's Defense."