Submitted Photo Col. James Schlabach, incoming 91st Missile Wing commander, accepts the guidon from Maj. Gen. Stacy Huser, 20th Air Force commander, during the missile wing’s change of command ceremony at Minot Air Force Base Tuesday. Huser passed the guidon to Schlabach during the ceremony, symbolically giving him command of the missile Wing. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alyssa Bankston.

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE – Col. James Schlabach assumed command of the 91st Missile Wing from Col. Kenneth McGhee during a change of command ceremony at Minot Air Force Base Tuesday.

Before assuming command of the Minot missile wing, Schlabach served as the commander of the 91st Operations Group at Minot AFB.

Those in attendance at the ceremony included the families of both commanders, support staff and the Rough Riders of the missile wing.

McGhee reflected on the accomplishments of the missile wing and its members under his command and shared that his time leading was one of the best times, not only in his career but in his entire life.

Maj. Gen. Stacy Huser, 20th Air Force commander, emphasized the importance of the 91st Missile Wing’s mission.

“It’s easy to see how important your past is and also why today is important,” said Huser when talking about the Minot missile wing. “Not just to the McGhee and Schlabach families, but to the nation and our vital mission.”

The 91st Missile Wing is one of the Air Force’s three operational missile units. Its mission is to defend the nation with a combat-ready nuclear force.

“It takes a village for all of us to get this mission done,” said Schlabach. “This mission is no less than providing an immense amount of combat capability and firepower.”