McChord Reserve Wing welcomes new commander

Northwest native returns home

By J.M. Simpson on October 5, 2014

In a simple and straightforward ceremony on Saturday afternoon at McChord Field in Hangar 9, Col. Scott McLaughlin assumed command of the 446th Military Air Wing.

Hundreds of Air Force members and civilian leaders - along with a significant numbers of friends and family - gathered to witness the ceremony.

"I promise not to let you down," McLaughlin said to Brig. Gen. John Flournoy, 4th Air Force's commander, moments after he had passed the Reserve Wing's colors to McLaughlin.

"I'm very lucky to have been chosen to lead a wing - especially the 446th."

The 446th is Washington state's only Air Force Reserve flying unit.

Taking command of the wing represents a homecoming for McLaughlin.

"I left the Northwest in 1985 and didn't return to the West Coast until 2013," he said.

"I really feel like I'm back home."

>>> Brig. Gen. John Flournoy, commander, 4th Air Force, hands the colors of the 446th Airlift Wing, McChord Field, to Col. Scott McLaughlin during an Assumption of Command ceremony. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

The nearly 2,100 reservists assigned to the wing support the Air Mobility Command's missions around the world on a daily basis, performing 44 percent of all C-17 missions departing McChord Field.

Prior to taking command of the 446th, McLaughlin served as the 349th Operations Group commander at Travis Air Force Base, California.

"McChord and Travis are very dynamic Reserve associate bases, so I'm familiar with that organizational model," McLaughlin said.

"I look forward to learning more about our joint partners and the functional relations within Joint Base Lewis-McChord."

>>> Col. Scott McLaughlin, commander, 446th Airlift Wing, McChord Field, talks with an airman moments after assuming command of the wing. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

The 446th's citizen airmen are capable of deploying anywhere in the world, 365 days a year for training, humanitarian efforts or combat.

"It's an honor and a privilege to serve a unit with such an impressive history of excellence," continued McLaughlin.

During his brief remarks, McLaughlin asked that his airmen be honest in their dealings with him, accountable for their actions and model mutual respect of their fellow reservists.

Of the three requests, McLaughlin stressed mutual respect.

"This is not negotiable," he stated clearly. 

"All members have a voice and will be respected."