Col. Thomas Sharpy to take command of 92nd ARW May 22 Published May 15, 2007 FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Col. Thomas Sharpy will assume command of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing from outgoing commander Col. Scott Hanson in a ceremony here 11 a.m., May 22. Maj. Gen. James Hawkins, 18th Air Force commander, will preside over the ceremony. Colonel Hanson has been selected to serve at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., as deputy director of the Operations and Plans Directorate, U.S. Transportation Command. In addition to the change of command portion of the ceremony, General Hawkins will present Colonel Hanson the Legion of Merit award for meritorious conduct while serving as commander here. Colonel Sharpy comes to the 92nd ARW from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., where he serves as the 60th Air Mobility Wing vice wing commander. The colonel is a command pilot with more than 3,750 flying hours. His career has had numerous supervisory and leadership positions to include serving as Senior Military Aide to the Vice President of the United States. Change of command ceremonies are rooted in military tradition. The passing of the unit flag, the ceremony's focal point, symbolizes the transfer of command responsibilities from one senior officer to another.