Whittenberger assumes command of Texas C-5 unit

433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/13/2014 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Col. William W. Whittenberger, Jr., assumed command of the 433rd Airlift Wing here July 12 during a ceremony presided by Brig. Gen. John C. Flournoy, Jr., Fourth Air Force commander.
"Congratulations (to this Wing) for getting him, because there was other people fighting for him," Flournoy said. "Bill has been the go- to guy. He's a mission mover and a people person. He's going to give you 120 percent and make things happen for this wing."

Prior to assuming command of the "Alamo Wing", Whittenberger was assigned as a political-military planner on the Joint Staff, J-5 Directorate, Partnership Strategy Deputy Directorate, Partnership Coordination Division in Washington, D.C. He also previously served as the 440th Operations Group commander at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. In addition, he served in many leadership capacities at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. He is also command pilot, having flown more than 4,500 hours including more than 250 combat hours and 140 combat sorties flown in the Balkans and South West Asia

"I already feel like a member of the family," Whittenberger said to members of the 433rd after assuming command. "All of you being family are what keeps this group moving. You guys do all of it, you make it happen."

Whittenberger recalled what he was told about the unit.

"I was told when I was coming here that this is a wing of heroes," he said. "So, my job is to open the door for heroes. I'm here to make sure that this well cultivated field of heroes continues to blossom".

Whittenberger was joined in the ceremony by his wife Natalie and his mother Judy.