180th Fighter Wing Operations Group Changes Command

U. S. Airmen from the 180th Fighter Wing Operations Group, Ohio Air National Guard, prepare for Col. C. Scott Croxton, operations group commander to relinquish command of the group to Col. Chris Belli during a change of command ceremony Sept. 7, 2013, at the base in Swanton, Ohio. Belli enlisted with the 180th Fighter Wing in 1986 as an A-7 Corsair mechanic before being selected as a pilot trainee in 1993. He is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours and most recently served as the 112th Fighter Squadron Commander at the 180th Fighter Wing. Croxton came to the 180th Fighter Wing after serving as the 192nd Operations Support Flight Commander at Langley Air Force Base, Va. Croxton will return to Langley A.F.B. to serve next as the Air Combat Command’s Air National Guard Inspector General Team. The change of command ceremony is a symbolic ceremony providing a tangible view of the command authority being transferred from one commander to the next. From left to right: Master Sgt. Barry Beale, knowledge operations specialist; Col. Steven S. Nordhaus, wing commander; Lt. Col. Chris Belli, in-coming operations group commander; Col. C. Scott Croxton, out-going operations group commander; Lt. Col. Michael DiDio, 112th Fighter Squadron commander; Chaplain (Capt.) Peter Drury; Chief Master Sgt. John DeReadt, operations group first sergeant. (U. S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Airman William Winston / Released).