Cooper accepts 4th MXG command

Col. Mark Slocum (left), 4th Fighter Wing commander, passes the guidon to Col. Shannon Cooper, incoming 4th Maintenance Group commander, during a change of command ceremony, June 29, 2015, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Cooper previously served as the commander of the 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, Southwest Asia, before assuming command of the 4th MXG. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittain Crolley)

Cooper accepts 4th MXG command

Col. Darrell Steele (right), outgoing 4th Maintenance Group commander, relinquishes the guidon to Col. Mark Slocum, 4th Fighter Wing commander, during a change of command ceremony, June 29, 2015, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Steele led the group for three years and plans to retire now that he has relinquished command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittain Crolley)

Cooper accepts 4th MXG command

Col. Shannon Cooper, incoming 4th Maintenance Group commander, address his Airmen for the first time since assuming command, June 29, 2015, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Cooper generously thanked his predecessor, Col. Darrell Steele, for laying a solid foundation and relayed his vision for the future to continue to build upon it. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittain Crolley)

Cooper accepts 4th MXG command

Published July 1, 2015
By Senior Airman Brittain Crolley
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Col. Shannon Cooper accepted command of the 4th Maintenance Group during a ceremony, June 29.

Cooper received the guidon from Col. Mark Slocum, 4th Fighter Wing commander, after Col. Darrell Steele relinquished command of the unit following three years at the helm.

"To the men and women of the 4th Maintenance Group, I'm looking forward to spending time with you and getting to know you as we start this next chapter together," Cooper said.

Cooper began his career as an enlisted maintenance troop, working on instruments for the C-141 Starlifter. Since then, he has served in a variety of assignments, including squadron- and group-level aircraft maintenance, major command staff, squadron command, and deputy group command.

Most recently, he served as the commander of the 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, Southwest Asia. Under his guidance, the Airmen of the 380th EMXG supported their parent wing's theater security and air supremacy.

Cooper said he plans to use the experience he gained from his previous assignment to build on the foundation Steele has already set in place for the group, which has earned plenty of top awards at the Air Force level during Steele's tenure.

Steele, who plans to retire now that he has relinquished command, noted that he sees bright things ahead for the group.

"Change is good and you've got the right leader in Col. Cooper, who is fired up and ready to lead you to meet tomorrow's requirements, to include the ones around the corner we can't see just yet," Steele explained. "I'm excited to see what heights he's going to achieve with this amazing group of maintainers."

With three squadrons and more than 2,000 "human weapon systems" ready to deploy at a moment's notice, the group will continue to bear the load of maintaining one of Air Combat Command's highest sortie rates. With Cooper in the driver's seat, they have no plans of slowing down.