Cannon Air Force Base to get new wing commander

A new 27th Special Operations Wing commander will be coming to Cannon in the summer of 2013, according to a Cannon Air Force Base press release.

USAF photo

Col. Tony Bauernfeind was named the new wing commander of Cannon by Air Force Special Operations Command Friday.

Col. Tony Bauernfeind was named the new wing commander of Cannon by Air Force Special Operations Command Friday.

Bauernfeind, who currently serves as the First Special Operations Group commander at Hurlburt Field, Fla., will replace Cannon's current wing commander Col. Buck Elton, who took command in July 2011.

According to the press release:

• An exact change of command date has not yet been determined.
• Bauernfeind's background in Hurlburt Field includes leading nearly 1,500 Air Commandos that provide the full spectrum specialized airpower to combatant commanders executing special operations missions.
• Bauernfeind has commanded Air Force special operations forces at the squadron and group level, and he has commanded joint special operations forces during operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
• Bauernfeind has flown more than 3,400 hours as an aircraft commander, instructor pilot and evaluator pilot in the MC-130E and MC-130H aircraft.

"The Air Commandos at Cannon will be in great hands," said Col. Buck Elton, in the press release. "Colonel Bauernfeind and his wife Trisha are a fantastic team."

According to Capt. Laurence van der Oord, chief of public affairs at Cannon, Elton has taken a new assignment but the details and location of that job have not been made official yet.

He added that Cannon's wing commander will typically rotate every two years.

Col. Bill West, 27th Special Operations Group commander, was also selected to assume command of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field this summer, according to the press release.