57th Wing welcomes new commander Published Jan. 17, 2008 NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The 57th Wing will hold a change of command ceremony Jan. 18 at 9 a.m. in the Thunderbird hangar, where Brig. Gen. Stephen L. Hoog will relinquish command to Col. Russell J. Handy. Colonel Handy comes to Nellis from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. As commander of the 57th Wing, Colonel Handy will be responsible for 35 squadrons and 150 aircraft comprising the Air Force's most diverse flying wing. Colonel Handy was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force in 1983 after graduating from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla. He is a command pilot with more than 3,300 hours of flight time, primarily in the F-15. He led combat missions during operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Desert Fox, Southern Watch and Noble Eagle. Brigadier General Hoog has served at Nellis since July, and will leave the 57th Wing to become the commander of the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center here. The USAFWC ensures deployed forces are trained and equipped to conduct integrated combat operations through testing and tactics development programs and training schools.
