Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro takes command of Eglin's 96th Test Wing

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE — After two years of leadership at the largest Air Force base in the world, Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro took command of the 96th Test Wing from Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Geraghty in a change of command ceremony held Wednesday at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory.

The ceremony, attended by local elected officials, military dignitaries, friends and family, was presided over by Air Force Test Center commander Maj. Gen. Evan Dertein. Massaro becomes the 65th commander of Eglin Air Force Base.

A farewell to Team Eglin

As Geraghty thanked family members, friends, local elected leaders and other military dignitaries in attendance, he began to reflect on a two-year command that was "very quick."

"Team Eglin, I had such high expectations for you. You went and exceeded those expectations time after time," said Geraghty. "Your performance was rewarded, often with high-level awards, but even more often, it was rewarded with a smile. A thank you in the simple pride of a job well done."

Before Geraghty ended his brief remarks, he delivered one final message to the community that instilled confidence in the incoming leader of Team Eglin.

"Jackpot," said Geraghty in closing. "This team has hit the jackpot with you in command. Team Eglin and community, Gen. Dertein, is placing you in good hands, and you, my friend, have hit the jackpot too, because Team Eglin rocks."

Geraghty and his family will now move to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, where he will serve as the Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation director at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and International Affairs at Air Force Materiel Command.

Who is Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro?

According to his biography on the Eglin website, Massaro graduated from Georgia Tech with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1998 and earned his commission as a second lieutenant into the Air Force that same year.

After several deployments during Operation Allied Force, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Massaro began to serve as a test pilot at Eglin and Edwards Air Force Base and piloted the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Lightning II.

Massaro has over 2,200 flight hours in over 30 aircraft and over 100 combat hours in the F-16. Other notable assignments in his career were as commander of the 495th Fighter Group at Shaw Air Force Base and as director of the 461st Flight Test Squadron at Edwards.

A new era at Eglin

After Massaro thanked local leaders, distinguished guests, and his family and friends who were in attendance, he began his first remarks as the 96th Test Wing commander.

"I am humbled to be here today as the commander of the 96th Test Wing," said Massaro. "I am so happy to return back here to Eglin after 15 years."

"What causes me to smile the most is getting to contribute to this mission again. Knowing how much of an impact that the 96th Test Wing and our Team Eglin mission partners have on today's readiness and the future readiness of our Air Force and joint service partners, allies and partner nations," Massaro added.

During his remarks, Massaro delivered three leadership priorities: executing the mission, caring for people and partnering for success.

Massaro then noted the increasingly hostile environment worldwide as tensions continue to build with nations such as China, Russia and North Korea. As the climate changes, Massaro believes that the 96th Test Wing will continue to advance in the strengthening of the nation's air-delivered arsenal, enhancing navigation and guidance systems and developing all-domain command and control systems.

Massaro concluded his remarks by asking the service members in attendance a question.

"Our nation is calling. What is it that you are doing today that makes you more ready to execute our mission?" asked Massaro. "If you don't know how to answer that question, I charge you to communicate with your accountable unit leadership to get an answer."

"In today's global security environment, we must be ready since it's always the hour," Massaro concluded.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro is set to lead Eglin AFB amid rising tensions