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U.S. Air Force Col. Curtis Dougherty (left), 354th Operations Group commander, awards the Meritorious Service Medal to Lt. Col Michael Mickus, 355th Fighter Squadron outgoing commander, during a change of command ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. Mickus is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours and more than 398 combat hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Curtis Dougherty (left), 354th Operations Group commander, receives the guidon from Lt. Col Michael Mickus, 355th Fighter Squadron outgoing commander, during a change of command ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. The guidon identifies the unit and passing it from one officer to another represents a changing of command. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Curtis Dougherty (left), 354th Operations Group commander, passes the guidon to Lt. Col. Erik Gonsalves, 355th Fighter Squadron incoming commander, during a change of command ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. The guidon identifies the unit and passing it from one officer to another represents a changing of command. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Janet Macias, 355th Fighter Generation Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief, changes the commander’s name on a F-35A Lightning II during a change of command ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. The change of command ceremony is deeply rooted in military tradition, dating back to the 18th century during the reign of King Frederick the Great of Prussia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Curtis Dougherty (left), 354th Operations Group commander, Lt. Col Michael Mickus (middle), 355th Fighter Squadron outgoing commander, and Lt. Col. Erik Gonsalves, 355th FS incoming commander, listen to opening remarks during a change of command ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. The change of command ceremony is deeply rooted in military tradition, dating back to the 18th century during the reign of King Frederick the Great of Prussia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Lt. Col Michael Mickus, 355th Fighter Squadron outgoing commander, renders a final salute after relinquishing command at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. Mickus is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours and more than 398 combat hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Erik Gonsalves, 355th Fighter Squadron incoming commander, renders an initial salute after assuming command at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. Gonsalves was the director of operations for the 356th Fighter Squadron before assuming command of the 355th FS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Erik Gonsalves (left), 355th Fighter Squadron incoming commander, and Lt. Col Michael Mickus, 355th FS outgoing commander, pose for a photo at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. The change of command ceremony is deeply rooted in military tradition, dating back to the 18th century during the reign of King Frederick the Great of Prussia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph Curran, 356th Fighter Squadron incoming commander, renders an initial salute during a change of command ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. Curran is a senior pilot with more than 2,500 flight hours, including more than 685 combat hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Worrell, 356th Fighter Squadron outgoing commander, speaks to the crowd during a change of command ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. Worrell is a senior pilot with over 2,300 flight hours, including 300 combat hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Curtis Dougherty (left), 354th Operations Group commander, Lt. Col. Ryan Worrell (middle), 356th Fighter Squadron outgoing commander, and Lt. Col. Joseph Curran, 356th FS incoming commander, listen to opening remarks during a change of command ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. The change of command ceremony is deeply rooted in military tradition, dating back to the 18th century during the reign of King Frederick the Great of Prussia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Curtis Dougherty (left), 354th Operations Group commander, Lt. Col. Ryan Worrell (middle), 356th Fighter Squadron outgoing commander, and Lt. Col. Joseph Curran, 356th FS incoming commander, stand at attention for the presentation of colors during a change of command ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. The change of command ceremony is deeply rooted in military tradition, dating back to the 18th century during the reign of King Frederick the Great of Prussia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Curtis Dougherty (left), 354th Operations Group commander, passes the guidon to Lt. Col. Joseph Curran, 356th Fighter Squadron incoming commander, during a change of command ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. The guidon identifies the unit and passing it from one officer to another represents a changing of command. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Curtis Dougherty (left), 354th Operations Group commander, receives the guidon from Lt. Col. Ryan Worrell, 356th Fighter Squadron outgoing commander, during a change of command ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. The guidon identifies the unit and passing it from one officer to another represents a changing of command. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Curtis Dougherty (left), 354th Operations Group commander, awards the Meritorious Service Medal to Lt. Col. Ryan Worrell, 356th Fighter Squadron outgoing commander, during a change of command ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. Worrell is a senior pilot with over 2,300 flight hours, including 300 combat hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

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355th Fighter Squadron and 356th Fighter Squadron hold change of commands

Published May 22, 2024
By Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --

The 355th Fighter Squadron and 356th Fighter Squadron host change of command ceremonies at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 17, 2024. The change of command ceremony is deeply rooted in military tradition, dating back to the 18th century during the reign of King Frederick the Great of Prussia.

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