LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The 944th Fighter Wing hangar was outfitted with heavy duty construction equipment and a firetruck to welcome 944th Civil Engineer Squadron’s new commander during an assumption of command ceremony here, March 7, 2020.
Maj. Scott M. Wilcox, 944th CES commander, assumed command from Lt. Col. Hayley Wihongi, 944th Mission Support Group interim commander. Friends, family, fellow commanders, and the men and women of the 944th CES joined Wilcox and Wihongi for the ceremony that started promptly at 9:44 a.m.
“Maj. Wilcox was deployed when we interviewed him for this position,” said Wihongi. “He put our interview on hold for a moment because an Airman came into his office and needed some assistance.”
When Wilcox put the needs of his Airman before his own, Wihongi said she knew he was the one for the job.
Wilcox, his wife, and two daughters were previously stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Wash., where Wilcox was the Readiness and Emergency Management Flight commander of the 446th Civil Engineer Squadron.
“This is the biggest challenge we have grappled to date,” said Wilcox, before delivering a message to his new troops. “I will give you everything I have, all I ask of you is that you remain as dedicated as you already are.”
As a civilian, Wilcox wields extensive experience throughout the fields of engineering and project management with civilian counterparts, but it is his Airmen he considers in higher regard.
“I’m honored and look forward to leading the best civil engineers in the world,” said Wilcox. “Let’s get to work.”