Col. Emig takes command

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Lt. Gen. Robert J. Elder Jr., 8th Air Force commander (left), hands off command of the 5th Bomb Wing to Col. Bruce Emig in a change of commander ceremony here June 5. Col. Emig assumed command of the wing from Col. Eldon A. Woodie, who retired the same day after 29 years of military service.

Col Emig takes command

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Col. Bruce C. Emig assumes command of the 5th Bomb Wing June 5 during a wing change of command ceremony here. As the 5th BW and Minot Air Force Base installation commander, Col. Emig is responsible for providing combat-ready B-52H aircraft, crews and associated combat support for deterrence, crisis response, global power projection, major theater war and maritime operations and Air and Space Expeditionary Force deployments in America’s only dual-wing, nuclear-capable base. A command pilot with more than 3,400 hours in a variety of aircraft, Colonel Emig has served in a number of operational and staff assignments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joe Rivera)

New 5th BW commander “can’t wait to get started”

Published June 5, 2007
By Airman 1st Class Wesley Wright
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Command of the 5th Bomb Wing turned over to a new leader June 5 in a ceremony held at Dock seven here.

Col. Bruce C. Emig assumed command of the wing from Col. Eldon A. Woodie, who retired the same day after 29 years of military service.

Lt. Gen. Robert J. Elder Jr., 8th Air Force commander, officiated the ceremony and noted daily excellence is and will continue to be the standard at Minot Air Force Base under Colonel Emig.

The general added Colonel Emig knows Minot. He was stationed here from 1999-2002. In February 2001, Colonel Emig assumed command of the 23rd Bomb Squadron.

"We're thrilled to rejoin Team Minot," said Colonel Emig, a command pilot with more than 3,400 hours in a variety of aircraft, upon assuming command. "In many ways, we (Emig family) feel like we're coming home."

The change of command ceremony included four 100-person flight formations, representing the four groups at Minot AFB.

The ceremony also included a presentation of the colors by the base honor guard and an unveiling of the 5th BW commander's B-52H Stratofortress with Colonel Emig's name inscribed on the nose.

Additionally, the 5th BW presented Kathy Emig with a bouquet of flowers to welcome her to the base.

"It was a very momentous occasion," said the colonel's brother, Lt. Col. Kirk Emig, commander of the 6th Combat Training Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev. "I wasn't going to miss it."

Now that the ceremony is over, the work begins.

"I can't wait to get started," Colonel Emig said.