Bloody Hundredth changes command

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Col. Christopher Amrhein accepted command of the 100th Air Refueling Wing here July 21.

Replacing Col. Thomas D. Torkelson as commander, Amrhein most recently served as vice wing commander of the 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan.

The ceremony, a formation of the squadrons which form the 100th ARW, served as an opportunity to bid farewell to Torkelson and welcome the new commander.

Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, 3rd Air Force commander and presiding officer, performed the change of command. Taking the guidon from Torkelson, symbolizing the relinquishing of command, Clark passed it to Amrhein.

The general said Amrhein and his wife Cathy are the perfect command team, ready to lead the men and women of the 100th ARW to the next level.

“Chris, your amazing career has prepared you well for this opportunity, and I want to be the first to congratulate you as you assume command of the storied and stellar 100th Air Refueling Wing. You will be called on time and again to perform what would seem to any other flying unit as impossible. But it will just be part of the routine for you and the Airmen of the Bloody Hundredth. I look forward to working with you and Cathy as you begin the exciting journey of leading this wing to continued greatness,” the general said.

Once the new commander accepted the guidon, symbolizing his assuming command, Amrhein stood in front of the Bloody Hundredth team as installation commander of RAF Mildenhall and shared his thoughts.

“To the Airmen and families of the 100th ARW and Team Mildenhall, it’s my honor to join the team and I am humbled by what you all do every day to get our mission done. This wing is the key airpower enabler for two continents and what we do bridges tyranny of distance and provides for persistent presence. You are true warrior professionals and my commitment is to give you my best each and every day,” the new 100th ARW commander said.

Amrhein has been a KC-135 instructor pilot and weapons officer, undergraduate pilot training instructor, as well as commander of the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, leading the Air Force’s largest refueling squadron through the intensity of the combat operations temop. As vice commander of the 18th Wing, he was responsible for the complex and diverse operations for the Air Force’s largest combat wing, and has a keen understanding of the strategic aspects of global reach. Serving for more than 21 years, Amrhein is a command pilot with more than 3,100 flying hours.