MATTYDALE -- The 174th Fighter Wing has a new leader.
Col. Greg Semmel, of Jamesville, has been named the new commander of the 174th Fighter Wing. He takes over for Col. Kevin Bradley on March 4. Bradley is being reassigned to the New York Air National Guard headquarters in Latham near Albany.
Semmel has served as the Assistant Vice Commander of the 174th Fighter Wing since March 2011. Since then, he has assisted the 174th Commander in leading a combat wing supporting the MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft, the MQ-9 Field Training Detachment, the MQ-9 Formal Training Unit, and three geographically separated units; organizing, training, equipping and deploying combat-ready forces for Air and Space Expeditionary Forces; and providing installation security, services, direct mission support and airfield management to the six mission partners and 1,200 plus military members of Hancock Field.
"Col Greg Semmel's experience in the Air National Guard and the active Air Force has prepared him to be an exceptionally capable commander for the 174th Fighter Wing," said Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York.
"I am truly honored to have been selected by The Adjutant General of the State of New York to lead such an extraordinary organization as the 174th Fighter Wing," Semmel said. "I look forward to working with all of the airmen of Hancock Field to continue our tradition of excellence in providing air and space power to the combatant commander, and supporting the Governor of New York when tasked."
Col. Semmel has served in more than 125 combat missions including Operation Desert Shied, Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
