314th Airlift Wing changes hands

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Kelly George
  • 314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Col. Rowayne A. Schatz, Jr. assumed command of the 314th Airlift Wing from outgoing commander Brig. Gen. Kip L. Self in a change of command ceremony held here today.

General Self leaves the 314th Airlift Wing to be the commander of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, Fort Dix, N.J.

The officiating officer, Maj. Gen. Irv Halter, 19th Air Force commander, welcomed numerous distinguished visitors in attendance including Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe.

General Halter praised General Self and wife Sue for their outstanding dedication and service to Little Rock Air Force Base.

Good wing commanders take care of their wings, great ones love their wings, "and there is no doubt which category Kip Self falls into," Colonel Schatz said.

Awarded the Legion of Merit for his 20 months as 314th Airlift Wing commander, General Self thanked community members for their support, "you're so proud as you step outside the gate and one of your community members thanks us for our service," he said.

General Self also remembered Little Rock's recently fallen Airman, Staff Sgt. John T. Self, 314th Airlift Wing security forces.

"We're not related, but he will be my brother forever," the general said.

Colonel Schatz comes to Little Rock Air Force Base from U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., where he served as the Deputy Director or Operations and Plans.

Colonel Schatz is no stranger to central Arkansas, serving as the 50th Airlift Squadron commander from 1997-1999. "We're excited to be back at Little Rock Air Force Base," he said. "Arkansas is a great place to live, work, and play."

"Our vision at team Little Rock, C-130 combat center of excellence, is to keep doing what we're doing...I'd like to continue the same trend of the three pillars of mission, people, and community," said Colonel Schatz.