MOODY AIR FORCE BASE — The 476th Fighter Group held a change of command ceremony earlier this week.

The ceremony welcomed Lt. Col. Brandon Kelly and said farewell to Col. Gerald Cook.

“Col. Cook is an outstanding airman who’s made the 476th FG and the 23rd Wing more ready and more lethal,” said Brig. General Roger Suro, 442d Fighter Wing commander. “Lt. Col. Kelly is going to build off the foundation that Col. Cook has set and work with the rest of Team Moody and raise their bar to a new level.

Kelly has excelled as a command pilot accomplishing more than 3,000 flying hours while also serving as the special assistant to the commander of the 476th FG.

“Col. Kelly, it was a very easy decision for me to encourage Brig. Gen Suro to have you replace me as the 476th FG commander,” Cook said. “Your strategic leadership and foresight as commander of the 76th Fighter Squadron has already been a vital part of the 476th FG and I’m looking forward to hearing about all the great things you’ll accomplish in the future.”

Kelly is no stranger to the 476th FG as he previously commanded the 76th FS. He was responsible for the integration of personnel within the 23d Fighter Group as a reserve classic associate unit where his airmen trained and deployed in support of active-duty exercises and contingency operations.

“To the airmen of the 476th FG, thank you for being a part of this all-volunteer force that we all are,” Kelly said. “But especially part of one that works a civilian job from Monday to Friday and then dedicates their weekend to complete the mission of the 476th FG.”

Suro highlighted the accomplishments of Cook, who will be moving on to the National War College in Washington D.C.

“The Air Force Reserve Command only sends one airman to the National War College every year, and that airman is Col. Cook, he’s that outstanding,” Suro said.