Trnka takes command of Beale reserve wing

940th Wing Public Affairs

5/4/2014 - BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.  -- The men and women of the 940th Wing gathered here May 4  to render a final salute to Col. Kevin Cavanagh as he handed off command of the wing to Col. John Trnka, Jr.

Col. Donald Lindberg, 10th Air Force vice commander, presided over the change of command. He praised the wing's achievements over the past three years and lauded Cavanagh's leadership.

Lindberg said he values three things in a commander: competency, courage and compassion.

"Colonel Cavanagh has been unflappable. He knows his people, and he has been at the tip of the spear these last three years, taking care of his people," Lindberg said. "He cares for you immensely, and he's proud of what you've done."

In his parting remarks, Cavanagh acknowledged that, during his tenure as commander, the only constant in the organization has been change.

"We've weathered many challenges. When I look back (over my command), I've seen the most cohesive, professional, dedicated and focused team of airmen and civilians who passed with flying colors when our core value 'service before self' was put to the test," Cavanagh said. "I'm proud of the phenomenal contributions the citizen airmen of this wing have made to our national defense."

Cavanagh's next duty assignment will be at Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, where he will fill the position of deputy director of Air, Space and Information Operations.

With the traditional passing of the guidon at the ceremony, Cavanagh transferred responsibility for the 900-member wing to Trnka, his vice wing commander for more than three years.

"Command is always a privilege and an honor. Part of that honor for me today is knowing I'm handing this command over to a visionary leader who will ensure 940th Wing airmen are trained and ready. Colonel Trnka is the perfect fit as we transition back to KC-135 operations."

Prior to transferring to the 940th Wing in 2010, Trnka served as commander of the 513th Air Control Group, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. A master air battle manager with more than 3,300 hours of flight time in the E-3B/C Sentry, he's flown combat and combat support missions in Iraq. Currently, he flies the remotely piloted RQ-4 Global Hawk, Beale's high-altitude, surveillance and reconnaissance platform.

"This is your wing. I work for you," Trnka told the reservists at the ceremony. "My job as your commander is to enable you to do your jobs and succeed at accomplishing our missions here."

The 940th Wing is the Air Force Reserve Command's preeminent force provider for command and control, high-altitude surveillance and reconnaissance, and mission support, in support of Air Combat Command, Central Command, and Pacific Air Forces.

Recognized as the Air Force model for total force integration, the wing provides in-garrison and in-theater combat support and reserve expertise to warfighters across the spectrum of conflict through training, developing and retaining experienced mission-ready citizen airmen.

More than 900 members are assigned to the reserve wing at Beale AFB, including four geographically separated units at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, March Air Reserve Base, California, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.