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315th gets new commander, Colonel Cook retires

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mark Kleber
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. --  Col. Timothy Wrighton assumed command of the 315th Airlift Wing from Col. Gary Cook in a ceremony on Sept. 17 at Charleston Air Force Base. 

Maj. Gen. Martin Mazick, commander 22nd Air Force, presided over the ceremony. 

Wrighton comes to Charleston from 22nd AF at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., where he was the assistant vice commander. Twenty-second Air Force has command supervision of Air Force Reserve airlift resources primarily in the Eastern U.S. 

Wrighton graduated from the U. S. Air Force Academy in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. He was on active duty from 1975 to 1982 when he joined the Air Force Reserve. 

His command assignments include operations group commander at the 349th Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., from July 1996 to April 1998. He served as Air Force Reserve advisor to the commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., from April 1998 to Feb 2001. He commanded the 507th Air Refueling Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., from Feb. 2001 to Feb. 2002 and the 452nd AMW, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., before moving to 22nd AF in June 2003. 

As a command pilot, he has logged more than 8,000 hours in refueling, cargo and troop transport aircraft. 

Before relinquishing command, Colonel Gary Cook received the Legion of Merit for his service as commander of the 315th AW since 2003. After more than 31 years of service, Colonel Cook is retiring in the Charleston area.