Flight Deck to Flight Line: Drescher takes 357th AS helm

  • Published
  • By Gene H. Hughes
  • 908th Airlift Wing
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  The 357th Airlift Squadron weighed anchor and got underway recently, as Lt. Col. Craig Drescher, a former Naval aviator, accepted stewardship of the unit during a June change of command ceremony.

The outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Scott Hayes, after more than 13 years with the 908th, has taken a position with the newly formed Force Generation Center at AFRC headquarters.

"That's a great opportunity for Scott, to be in on the ground floor for something new, treading new paths," said Col. Edward Jennings, operations group commander. "Scott will be one of the leaders getting that up and going. We applaud him for that. We wish him well and the best of luck, and I know he's going to carry the legacy of the 357th with him."

In his final remarks, Colonel Hayes thanked his fellow commanders and Airmen for their hard work during the past two years, which saw the squadron particpate in an ORE, ORI, a desert deployment, and the humanitarian relief missions to Haiti and Pakistan.

"When they threw the schedule in front of us, we didn't say, 'that's too hard.' The 357th said 'let's get 'er done,' and it's just awesome to be around people who are dedicated and professional in every way."

Moving from the top position at the operations support squadron, Colonel Drescher, a master navigator, is well familiar with the 908th, having joined the unit in July 2004. Before joining the Air Force Reserve Command's C-130 community, he was in the U.S. Navy, and at one time was assigned to the VF-51 "Screaming Eagles" fighter squadron out of Naval Air Station Miramar and sea-based aboard the carrier USS Kitty Hawk.

"The book has not been written that in any way parallels the path I've taken to be here today," he said. "I never thought about being a squadron commander. I always thought about working hard, doing my best and helping out the organization anyway I could."

"I'm more excited than ever when I get a chance to fly, and how much of an honor it is to be a member of the 908th. I'm fully aware of the awesome responsibilities I'm taking on and the hard work that lies ahead.

"Mostly, I'm humbled just to be a part of this great organization."