New ‘Phoenix’ takes reins at MXG

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Airmen in formation, F-16 Fighting Falcons on display and words of wisdom from the "Wolf" greeted the 8th Maintenance Group's newest commander during the group's assumption of command ceremony July 2 here. 

Col. Michael "Phoenix" Kucej assumed command of the group from Col. John Morley. Colonel Kucej is the former deputy commander of the 57th Maintenance Group at Nellis AFB, Nev. 

Col. CQ "Wolf" Brown, 8th Fighter Wing commander, who presided over the event, said he couldn't ask for a more qualified officer to take the reins of the maintenance group. 

"Colonel Kucej takes on the leadership of an awesome group of professionals and I have no doubt he and his group will excel," Colonel Brown said. "Phoenix has a breath of maintenance experience, including serving in a combat environment. No doubt, he is ready for the rigors of Kunsan." 

Commenting on some of the major challenges facing the group, Colonel Kucej said cuts affecting the maintenance side of the wing, directed by Presidential Budget Decision, or PBD-720, meant emphasizing new and innovative ways to increase the group's work capacity. 

"Maintenance people are and have always been 'can-do' folks," the colonel said. "Many times, maintenance makes it happen by carrying the weight of the mission on their backs. I'm looking to all my maintenance Airmen to provide their smart ideas to the group so we can overcome those challenges." 

Colonel Kucej also noted what he sees as "one of the most coveted maintenance group commander jobs in the Air Force." 

"This is one of the most coveted jobs, based on the mission, the reputation of camaraderie this wing and this group has and how hard maintainers have to work," he said. "And through all that, the only way to succeed is through the extraordinary teamwork they display. This will continue to lead to jets that are just as lethal as the pilots who fly them." 

Together with the challenges facing the group as well as taking on the namesake of 'Phoenix,' Colonel Kucej summed up the mission of his maintenance personnel: "we fix jets." 

"Fixing jets is our job," he said. "If it's broke, we fix it as quickly and effectively as we can. 

My job is to ensure aircraft availability to meet the wing's flying, training and fighting requirements ... it's just that simple. As such, I also want my folks to have fun here. My hope is they walk away from this assignment proud to have been a Wolf Pack maintainer."