Patrick Rhatigan Is A Well

Respected, Courageous 19th Airlift

Wing Commander

Patrick Rhatigan took charge as the 19th Airlift

Wing Commander of Little Rock Air Force Base,
Arkansas in the month of July 2013. Lt. Gen.
Darren McDew took the guidon from Brigadier
General (Select) Brain Robinson, the former
commander of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock
AFB.
The 19th Airlift Wing is considered as the Home
of C-130 Combat Airlift. It works in accordance
with the 314th Airlift Wing, USAF Mobility
Weapons School, 22nd Air Force Detachment,
and 189th Airlift Wing in every aspect of C-130
training as well as operations.

During the change-of-command ceremony,

hundreds of airmen as well as community leaders
had
gathered,
where
Patrick
Rhatigan
addressed that the base would be transitioning to
the new C-130 Js. The event was also attended
by Tuskegee Airman Milton Crenshaw, State Sen.
Eddie Jo Williams, Cabot Mayor Bill Cypert,
Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher, Ward Mayor Art
Brooke, Sherwood Mayor Virginia Hillman, and
many aides representing members and legislators
of Congress.

Col. Rhatigan assured the veterans that his focus

would be stability and to release the creative
minds of the airmen. He thanked Brig. Gen.
(Select) Robinson who commanded this base for
a period of 18 months. As the 19th Airlift Wing
Commander, Col. Rhatigan leads the largest fleet
of C-130 aircraft of the world, and is responsible
for providing worldwide deployable C-130 aircraft,
equipment, expeditionary combat support, and
personnel for Air Mobility Command as well as Air
Expeditionary Force tasking.

He replaced Robinson who was chosen for the

promotion to Brigadier General. Patrick Rhatigan
is a proven commander and warrior who is always
ready to encounter challenges. Before joining
Little Rock Air Force Base, Col. Rhatigan had
served as the 379th Expeditionary Operations
Group Commander in Southwest Asia.

Thank You
Patrick Rhatigan