Assuming command

Lt. Col. Dwight Dorau receives the guidon of the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron from Col. Randall Ogden, 376th Expeditionary Operations Group commander, in a change of command ceremony at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, June 16. Colonel Dorau is deployed to the base for 120 days and will command a squadron of approximately 12 KC-135R Stratotanker aerial refuelers and 80 Airmen to conduct strategic refueling of Coalition aircraft supporting military operations in Afghanistan. He is deployed from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom, where he serves as commander of the 100th Operations Support Squadron.

RAF Mildenhall lieutenant colonel assumes command of combat aerial refueling squadron

Published June 23, 2008
By Maj. Damien Pickart
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

Manas Air Base, KYRGYZSTAN -- Lt. Col. Dwight Dorau assumed command of the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in a change-of-command ceremony here June 16.

The 18-year Air Force veteran was selected to lead the sole air refueling squadron at the premiere air mobility hub supporting ongoing military operations in Afghanistan. He will command a squadron of about 12 KC-13R Stratotanker air refuelers and 80 personnel to conduct strategic aerial refueling of Coalition aircraft supporting Operations Enduring Freedom.

Colonel Dorau is deployed here for 120 days from RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, where he serves as commander of the 100th Operations Support Squadron.

Manas Air Base was activated shortly after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and continues to play an important role in the ongoing operations in Afghanistan, helping to promote regional stability in Central Asia.

"It is such a privilege to be entrusted with command of the sole squadron of refuelers at our primary air mobility hub for OEF," he said shortly after assuming command. "Being selected to command in a combat environment is an incredible privilege and is the highlight of my Air Force career."