LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- Col. N’Keiba Estelle relinquished command of the 19th Mission Support Group to Col. Katrina Smith during a change of command ceremony at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, June 27, 2025.
Col. Denny Davies, 19th Airlift Wing commander, presided over the ceremony attended by family, friends, members of the 19th MSG and representatives from across Herk Nation.
During her tenure, Estelle commanded over 1,500 military and civilian personnel across six squadrons, supporting 12,000 military families, 68,000 retirees, and $4.2 billion in assets. She also drove $497 million in infrastructure improvements, including a flight simulator facility for the U.S. Air Force's sole C-130 pilot production wing and a 12,000 foot runway repair, vital to flying operations for three wings across four major commands.
"To Col. Smith and Chief Schmidt," Estelle said, speaking to the incoming group commander and senior enlisted leader, "you're inheriting a team that is bold, resilient, and ready; trust them, empower them, and keep growing them."
After addressing the new command team Estelle addressed her family and the men and women of the 19th MSG.
"Thank you for what you taught me about leadership and the human spirit,” Estelle said. “As I salute one last time, know that I carry your stories with me into my next mission and for the rest of my life."
The incoming commander, Col. Smith previously served as the Commander of Defense Logistics Agency Aviation at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, where she led a 436-member team that provided retail-level support for the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, supporting department maintenance for bomber and tanker aircraft, earning $920 million in an annual revenue.
"It is my distinct honor to join this amazing team and it is always a humbling experience to be selected for command and it’s a privilege and responsibility that I do not take lightly," Smith said. “Every new job brings new opportunities and I'm looking forward to the opportunity and challenges the future at Team Little Rock will bring."
Smith hails from Rapid City, South Dakota and entered the Air Force in 2003 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The change of command marks a new chapter for the 19th Mission Support Group. Col. Smith brings a wealth of experience and leadership to Little Rock AFB, and the 19th MSG stands ready to continue its vital mission under her command. The legacy of excellence fostered by Col. Estelle provides a strong foundation for continued success in supporting Herk Nation.