Col. Christopher Sage to assume command of 4th Fighter Wing

  • Published
  • By 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
  • 4th Fighter Wing
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Col. Christopher Sage will assume command of the 4th Fighter Wing during a change-of-command ceremony here, June 30, at 9 a.m.

During the ceremony, Col. Mark Slocum, commander of the 4th FW since June of 2014, will relinquish command to Sage and assume his new position as Director of U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom. Maj. Gen. Scott Zobrist, 9th Air Force commander, will preside over the ceremony.

Sage, who served at Seymour Johnson AFB on two previous assignments, was most recently the senior military assistant to the deputy chairman of the NATO Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium. He was stationed here from December 1994-1995 for F-15E Strike Eagle pilot training and again from 2004-2007 as a member of the 336th Fighter Squadron.

During his 22-year career, Sage has supported Operations NORTHERN WATCH, DELIBERATE FORGE, ALLIED FORCE, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. He logged more than 4,100 flight hours, which include 1,100 combat hours.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Following the change of command, there will be a re-naming ceremony for the flagship F-15E Strike Eagle. The aircraft, dubbed the “Spirit of Goldsboro,” is assigned to the commander of the 4th FW and is renamed following each change of command. Sage will be available for a 15 minute press conference prior to the flagship ceremony at approximately 11:30 a.m at the 916th hangar. Media may choose to attend both ceremonies, or leave following the change of command. Media agencies are encouraged to RSVP by Wednesday, June 29, 9:00 a.m. If news agencies are unable to attend, but interested in covering the event to receive footage from the ceremony please contact 4fw.pa.mediaops@us.af.mil.