21st SW change of command

Col. Stephen Whiting (right) receives the 21st Space Wing guidon from Lt. Gen. Larry James, 14th Air Force commander, as he assumes command during the wing’s change-of-command ceremony Aug. 20 at the Peterson AFB Parade Field. As 21st SW commander, Colonel Whiting provides support and protection for more than 16,000 people who live and/or work on Peterson each day. He oversees nearly 2,000 military personnel, 3,000 civilian and contractor personnel at six military installations around the United States, along with space surveillance and missile warning units in five countries. Last year Peterson had nearly $1.2 billion in economic impact upon the local community. Colonel Whiting comes to the wing from Newport, R.I., where he was the chief of staff United States Air Force fellow with duty at the chief of Naval operations' Strategic Studies Group. He assumed command from Col. Jay Raymond who is now the director of plans, programs and analyses, at Headquarters Air Force Space Command. (U.S. Air Force photo by Craig Denton)