MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- 
The 184th Regional Support Group and the 184th Mission Support Group hosted back-to-back change of command and assumption of command ceremonies at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, March 6. During the first ceremony, Col. Joe Dessenberger relinquished command of the 184th RSG to Lt. Col. Craig Cooper. Immediately following, Dessenberger assumed command of the 184th MSG. The presiding official for the ceremonies was Col. Jason Knobbe, commander, 184th Wing.
Pictured left to right: Col. Jason Knobbe, commander, 184th Wing; Chief Master Sgt. Chris Beach, superintendent, 184th Regional Support Group; Col. Joe Dessenberger; Chief Master Sgt. Darin Brun, superintendent, 184th Mission Support Group; and Lt. Col. Craig Cooper.
(Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt McCoy)
The 184th Regional Support Group and the 184th Mission Support Group hosted back-to-back change of command and assumption of command ceremonies at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, March 6.
During the first ceremony, Col. Joe Dessenberger relinquished command of the 184th RSG to Lt. Col. Craig Cooper.
“To the men and women of the Regional Support Group, the past two years have been challenging and rewarding for me,” said Dessenberger. “I’ve learned more from each and every one of you than you have ever learned from me. Your efforts have made my job seem easy at times. To all of you I say, ‘Job well done,’ and I’m proud to have served with you.”
Pictured: Col. Joe Dessenberger, assuming command of the 184th Mission Support Group.
Cooper’s most recent assignment was commander of the 177th Information Aggressor Squadron, which he relinquished to Lt. Col. David Carpenter on March 4.
Prior to his positions in the cyber arena, Cooper spent much of his career in the 134th Air Control Squadron; one of the three organizations within the RSG.
Pictured left to right: Col. Jason Knobbe, commander, 184th Wing; Chief Master Sgt. Chris Beach, superintendent, 184th Regional Support Group; and Lt. Col. Craig Cooper.
“It’s great to be back in the RSG and I look forward to supporting the men and women of the Regional Support Group, and many more years of serving the nation and serving the Kansas Air National Guard,” said Cooper. “The missions within the group are unique, and I’m excited to work with these three squadron commanders as they lead their Airmen through the challenges that lie ahead.”
Pictured: Lt. Col. Craig Cooper assuming command of the 184th Regional Support Group.
Immediately following, Dessenberger assumed command of the 184th MSG, a position he’s familiar with having served in it before.
“To the men and women of the MSG, I am full of pride in coming home,” said Dessenberger. “I may have been a maintainer in my previous life, but much of my military officership and leadership experiences I’ve learned working alongside professionals that make up the MSG.”
“You are the foundation of all things that happen in the wing,” he continued. “Nothing happens until people are gained, trained, secured, fed, housed, supplied, and last but not least, on the network. You have already welcomed me back with open arms and for that I am grateful.”
Pictured left to right: Col. Jason Knobbe, commander, 184th Wing; Chief Master Sgt. Darin Brun, superintendent, 184th Mission Support Group; and Col. Joe Dessenberger.
The presiding official for the ceremonies was Col. Jason Knobbe, commander, 184th Wing.
“Leadership change can always be a little bit nerve-racking sometimes,” said Knobbe, “but the good thing about change is it’s always that catalytic for improvement, and I believe wholly in my heart that these two gentlemen are the right people at the right time.”
Previous Article: 184th Med Group Vaccinates Hundreds of Airmen