Doherty assumes command of 4th FW

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Col. Patrick Doherty assumed command of the 4th Fighter Wing from Col. Mark Kelly during a change-of-command ceremony here at Heritage Park today.

Ninth Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. William Holland presided over the ceremony.

"Colonel Doherty will be taking command of this unparallel wing today and of course you all know him already," General Holland said. "He has been a part of your wing at one time or another for probably over eight years. This combined with his education and experience has prepared him well to lead this 4th FW. There is no better match to guide you into the future."

Colonel Doherty, formerly the 4th FW vice commander, has spent more than eight years of his 23-year career at Seymour Johnson AFB.

"As you can imagine, I stand here humbled and excited to be your commander," Colonel Doherty said. "Historically, the passing of the guidon often results in changes of objectives, priorities and focus for a wing. Yet, I can tell you with great confidence and in no uncertain terms ... this change of command will represent the most seamless transition of command and authorities this wing has ever experienced as Colonel Kelly and I share similar views and perspectives on this wing's Airmen, priorities, efforts, challenges and focus areas."

During his time here, he served as a 334th Fighter Squadron Flying Training Unit instructor pilot, tactics officer and weapons chief and also the Detachment 15 Training Support Squadron courseware development chief. After a three year hiatus from North Carolina, he returned to the area as the 336th FS assistant director of operations and chief of standardization and evaluation. He then transferred to the 335th FS as the operations officer and finally back to the 334th FS as the squadron commander.

Colonel Doherty is a command pilot with approximately 3,400 flying hours of which more than 2,500 are in the F-15E Strike Eagle. He has flown in support of Operations Provide Comfort, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

After leading the 4th FW for the past 18 months, Colonel Kelly will become the executive assistant to the deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. For their contributions to the 4th FW, Colonel Kelly and his wife, Tanya, earned the 2010 General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award. Many notable achievements during his command lead to this award, to include the construction of 57 aircraft shelters and the largest F-15E capabilities upgrade ever conducted.