Luke welcomes new MSG commander

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Devante Williams
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 56th Mission Support Group got a new leader July 24 as Col. Nathan Mooney relinquished command to Col. James Kossler during a change of command ceremony held at Luke Air Force Base.

Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, 56th Fighter Wing commander, presided over the ceremony.

"Colonel Kossler knows how to make a mission support group run, and I could not think of a better person to lead our group," Pleus said. "I ask that you take care of the Airmen, and they will take care of the mission."

Kossler completed a bachelor's of architecture degree in 1993 at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. As a career civil engineer, he served as a deputy group commander and squadron commander. He also has broad base, deployed, MAJCOM, joint and air staff-level experience, in positions which include strategic planning, executive officer, operations officer, and legislative affairs functions.

Prior to his arrival to Luke, Kossler was the chief of the engineering division, directorate of installations and mission support at Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command in Hurlburt Field, Florida. The division provides facility, infrastructure and environmental planning development for multibillion dollar worldwide investment programs for two large installations in the U.S. and more than 20 geographically separated units worldwide.

After accepting the guidon, a symbol of command, Kossler addressed his Airmen.

"Everything you do is very important," Kossler said. "We're going to continue to build a premiere base community. I'm looking forward to working with everyone to achieve that mission."