Col. William B. Binger assumes command of the 482nd FW

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  • By 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  "This is an exciting day for me. It's a dream come true," said Col. William Binger to hundreds of 482nd Fighter Wing reservists on May 18.

Air Force and community leaders, wing members, and friends filled an aircraft hangar to welcome Colonel Binger as he assumed command of the 482nd FW during a ceremony that doubled as a retirement ceremony for Col. Randall Falcon, the outgoing commander. Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, Chief of the Air Force Reserve Command, presided over Colonel Falcon's retirement.

Brig. Gen. Thomas "TC" Coon, 10th Air Force commander, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, was the presiding official at the change of command.
Colonel Binger, a command pilot with more than 4,400 hours in the F-16 and 40 combat missions over Iraq, comes to the wing after serving Deputy Director of Air Force Strategic Planning and Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs at Headquarters USAF.

Colonel Binger began his speech by thanking his family, friends, everyone in attendance, and all the servicemembers defending freedom around the world.

"I remembered showing up here 19 years ago to fly with the 31st Fighter Wing," he said. "It's like a homecoming to me. My oldest son was born at the hospital on Homestead Air Force Base."

Colonel Binger named the exceptional aspects of the base that include the facilities, location, training ranges and airfield, and he praised the Airmen of the 482nd FW.

"You'll always get 100 percent from me, he said. "I promise that I'll always lead from the front."

During Colonel Falcon's retirement ceremony, General Bradley praised the outgoing commander for his service throughout his 34-year career and his four-year tenure at the 482nd FW.

"Throughout his career, Colonel Falcon has been a stellar leader, a proven officer and a distinguished fighter pilot for the Air Force," General Bradley said.

In addition to a static display of an F-16 for the ceremony, an A-10 Thunderbolt II was flown in to Homestead ARB for the ceremony for static display during the ceremony. Colonel Falcon retires with 4,300 flying hours in the 0-2, A-10A, and F-16, of which 2,800 hours were in the A-10.