New Viper takes the reigns

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathan Gallahan
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
A veteran combat pilot assumed command of the 8th Operations Group today during a ceremony in Hangar 3 in front of the group's Airmen.

"[I am now] realizing a dream of commanding the most distinguished and combat-focused operations group in the Air Force," Col. Kenneth "Viper" Rizer said. "Given its unmatched record in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, commanding the 8th OG is a responsibility for which I am deeply humbled and honored."

During his speech he thanked everyone who has helped during his transition and let everyone know he loves maintenance Airmen, because without them "pilots are little more than officers with cool leather jackets and sunglasses."

Col. Jeff "Wolf" Lofgren presided over the ceremony and mentioned the operations group has had many successes over the last year, but the group still has a lot of excellence left in them, and it's up to the new Viper to set the goals and objectives for the next year.

"With the high turnover we have here at Kunsan, we have no time to rest on our laurels. The threat 100 miles north of here is real," Col. Rizer said. "We, along with our South Korean allies, are the force which will deter North Korean aggression and, should deterrence fail, crush the enemy."

He also mentioned during his speech that the next year will be busy, holding many challenges for the group to overcome; including major aircraft modifications, aircraft conversions, limited range space, PDB 720 and flying hour cuts.

"We've done this before," he said. "In three years during WWII, our group successfully converted from P-38s to P-40s to P-38s and in the process still managed to rack up more than 420 kills."

"As Col. Robin [Wolf I] Olds showed in Operation Bolo during the Vietnam War, we've got a tradition of ingenuity at solving problems, tactical and otherwise," he said. "The challenges we face this year are nothing other than opportunities to continue the great history of our group."

As Col. Jon Norman, former 8th OG commander passes into the groups history books, he thanked everyone from each group and said "We've done it all with pride, class and style." He will now continue his career as the 51st Fighter Wing commander, the first colonel to command the wing at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

Col. Rizer took command here after graduating from the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. He is a decorated command pilot with more than 2,600 flying hours, including 114 combat flying hours.