After acknowledging how proud he was to be joining such an amazing group of Air National Guardsman as the newest commander of the Western Air Defense Sector at McChord Field, Col. Peter Stavros broke down his leadership motto to terms even a kindergartner could understand.

"There are three basic rules I tell my players when I'm coaching little league," Stavros said. "Keep your eye on the ball, always listen to the coach and be cool. And just as in baseball, the same rules apply at WADS."

The affable, charismatic and sports-loving Stavros took over as the new WADS commander at a change of command ceremony March 3 at the McChord Field Theater. The Kennebunkport, Maine native comes to WADS from the Louisiana Air National Guard where he was a member of the 159th Fighter Wing, and has served as chief of advanced programs, chief of wing safety, fighter squadron commander and operations group commander.

"I'm very excited ... it's a huge honor to be selected as the new WADS commander," said Stavros, an Air Force Academy graduate and command pilot who's logged more than a combined 3,500 hours in the T-38 Talon and F-15 Eagle. "I'm walking into a high-class organization and my charge is to make sure we don't get off of the tracks."

Stavros' leadership skills were put the test most recently when he served as the senior operations officer on the Joint Task Force Belle Chasse during Hurricane Katrinja rescue and recovery operations in New Orleans. Some of the lessons learned during his time on the task force will come in handy in his new position at WADS.

"A lot of lessons were learned with Katrina," said Stavros, 46. "You have to be adaptable and flexible and make a quick and accurate decision. The communication piece plays a huge part of that. The need for good communication is paramount."

WADS is made up of personnel from the Washington Air National Guard, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Title 5 civilians, civilian contractors and Canadian Forces Air Command. This bi-national organization exercises operational control of Air Guard fighter aircraft on continuous alert at several locations and uses radar data and the radio capabilities of joint surveillance sites throughout its area of responsibility of the U.S.

"There is no doubt (Stavros) is up to the task of leading WADS," said Maj. Gen. Timothy Lowenberg, Washington State Adjutant General.

Stavros takes over command from Col. Paul Gruver, who has been nominated for the rank of brigadier general and will be the new director of the Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Washington National Guard, at Camp Murray.