31st FIGHTER WING CHANGE OF COMMAND – JUNE 5, 2020

Friday, June 5, 2020, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Daniel T. Lasica, relinquished command of the 31st Fighter Wing to U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Jason E. Bailey. Major General John M. Wood, 3rd Air Force commander, presided over the change of command that was conducted both in person and virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. The unique ceremony required the new wing commander to be in quarantine at the time it was conducted, and was accomplished by recording the two different locations at the same time and connecting them through a video communication application.
Brigadier General Daniel T. Lasica led 4,500 Airmen supporting operations across three combatant commands from June 17, 2018 to June 5, 2020.  “Brigadier General Lasica has always highlighted the people around him and he has made a difference” said Major General Wood, before to decorate Lasica for his remarkable service as the wing commander. “The Legion of Merit is presented for exceptionally meritorious service and you’ve done that for our nation,” said Wood. The award was presented while following social distancing protocol. Instead of being physically given to Lasica by Wood, it was displayed on a table for viewers to see.
After Lasica’s farewell and relinquishment of command, Brigadier General Bailey saluted Major General Wood and assumed command of the 31st Fighter Wing. Brigadier General  Jason E. Bailey took command of the only permanently assigned U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft wing in NATO's Southern region and approximately 4,500 active-duty military members, nearly 550 U.S. civilians and 800 Italian civilian employees. Brigadier General Bailey, who was the commander of the 31st Operations Support Squadron from 2011 to 2013, recognized Italian partners, the leadership team, Airmen, and those friends and family members that could not be in attendance of the ceremony. 
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Source : 31st Fighter Wing Public Affair