TOLEDO, Ohio — Lt. Col. Christopher "Bucket" Belli assumed command of the 112th Fighter Squadron from Lt. Col. Scott Reed during a June 12, 2011, ceremony at the Toledo Express Airport, home to the 180th Fighter Wing.
A change of command is one of the rare moments in a military career where both the outgoing and incoming commanders receive special acknowledgement for their service. A legacy is cemented, while a new vision begins to unfold as well. There has been a long line of dedicated commanders of the 112th, and Belli said he would do his best to continue that tradition.
Reed reminded the group assembled for the ceremony to "bring it strong every day." He spoke of the high level of commitment that is a part of a leadership role, which often requires making sacrifices. He talked about how he had missed several important dates with Family, such as birthdays and anniversaries, while serving in a leadership role. He thanked his Family present at the event for their love and support because, through his service, they too were committed to the missions and responsibilities he has had with the 112th.
One of the most remarkable moments in Reed's tenure as commander of the 112th squadron was retold by Col. Keith Newell, 180th Operations Group commander. When Reed was deployed to Iraq in 2007, tragedy stuck when a fellow unit member, Maj. Kevin "Sonny" Sonnenberg, died when his F-16 fighter jet crashed outside of Joint Base Balad. While managing this crisis personally, Reed also was able to direct the focus of his group to complete the mission at hand. Instances like this are the reason why Reed said "he left nothing on the table," as he relinquished his command to Belli.
During his remarks to those in attendance, Belli intertwined two themes — to use the warrior spirit and accept new challenges in order to stay motivated in your work, because it sometimes can be easy to become complacent.
Belli's career path helps illustrate his philosophies. His career with the 180th began when he enlisted in 1986, and was subsequently commissioned in 1993. He has a command pilot rating and has flown 65 combat sorties during his deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Northern Watch and Southern Watch. In 25 years of service within the 180th, Belli moved up the enlisted ranks, earned a commission and is now in a key leadership position.
"I am convinced Bucket will make the fighter squadron better," Reed said. |
