Tyndall's new wing commander selected

  • Published
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  On Oct. 9, U.S. Air Force officials announced Col. David E. Graff is selected as the next 325th Fighter Wing commander.

Colonel Graff replaces Brig. Gen. John K. McMullen, who was selected to serve as the deputy chief of staff, Operations, Allied Air Command, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The change of command ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 14.

"It is truly an honor to be selected to command America's Air Dominance team here at Tyndall," Colonel Graff said. "We have such an outstanding group of men and women and I'm pleased to have the opportunity to lead them."

As commander, the colonel will lead more than 4,000 personnel who train and prepare F-22 pilots, intelligence officers, maintainers, and other support specialties for worldwide assignment to combat air force units. The wing is host to First Air Force (Air Forces Northern), 601st Air Operations Center, 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group, AFCEC, AFRL, 337th Air Control Squadron and Silver Flag, and it also provides support to more than 23,000 Airmen, civilians, contractors and their families.

Colonel Graff currently serves as the 325th FW vice commander. Prior to his arrival at Tyndall, he served as the military assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force and was a student at the National War College in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1993 and completed F-15 Eagle qualification training at Tyndall in 1995.

This is Colonel Graff's third assignment to the 325th FW, having served from October 1998 to June 1999 as an instructor pilot in the 2nd Fighter Squadron, and from January 2000 to June 2001 as a weapons officer in the 95th Fighter Squadron.

"I'm confident Colonel Graff will do a superb job as commander of this wing," General McMullen said. "He's an exceptional leader."

Colonel Graff is a command pilot with more than 2,300 hours in the T-37 Tweet, T-38 Talon and F-15C and D models. His military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals and the Air Medal. Colonel Graff is accompanied by his wife, Jamee and their four children.