HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Major General Gary Keefe, The Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard (right), administered the oath of office to new Barnes Air National Guard Base Commander Col. James M. Suhr (left) on Tuesday, January 31 at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. In the ceremony Suhr swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Colonel Suhr accepted command of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts from Colonel James J. Keefe. A Change of Command ceremony will take place Mar. 5 at Barnes Air National Guard Base.
Colonel Suhr comes to Western Massachusetts from the Active Duty Air Force where he was the Director of Staff for the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC. As part of a Total Force initiative Suhr will be in a dual status role where he is both Active Duty and Air National Guard at the same time. This will be a first in the long list of Barnes Air National Guard Base Commanders.