Assumption of Command

Maj. Gen. Stephen Danner, Missouri National Guard Adjutant General, speaks during the assumption of command on September 25, 2011 at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in Saint Joseph, Mo. Col. Pankau assumed command of the 139th becoming the 10th commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sheldon Thompson)

Assumption of Command

Maj. Gen. Stephen Danner, Missouri National Guard Adjutant General, gives the 139th Airlift Wing flag to Col. Michael Pankau, 139th Airlift Wing Commander Missouri Air National Guard, during the assumption of command on September 25, 2011 at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in Saint Joseph, Mo. Col. Pankau assumed command of the 139th becoming the 10th commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sheldon Thompson)

Assumption of Command

Maj. Brian Clark 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard, sings the National Anthem during an assumption of command ceremony on September 25, 2011 at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in Saint Joseph, Mo. Col. Michael Pankau assumed command of the 139th, becoming the 10th commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sheldon Thompson)

Rosecrans holds assumption of command ceremony

Published Sept. 25, 2011
By Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith
139th Airlift Wing

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The 139th Airlift Wing held an assumption of command ceremony here Sept. 25 for its newest commander, Col. Michael Pankau.

Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, announced August 19 that Pankau was commanding the Wing.

Due to Wing's recent state support missions as well as its own preparations in the Missouri River flood, citizen-Airmen here waited for today to recognize and welcome their new boss.

The ceremony was held outdoors, in front of the base's Headquarters building with an early afternoon formation of Airmen and distinguished visitors. Pankau took the Wing's command flag from Danner as the Wing's newest and 10th commander.

Danner lauded Pankau for his leadership, noting his experience and accomplishments as a "great leader and asset" for the 139th and the surrounding area.

"The future holds much challenge and much change," Pankau told the gathering. "But we will be fine because this is the 139th."

Pankau is a St. Joseph native and a 1984 graduate of Missouri Western State University with a Master of Science from the University of Central Missouri. He is a master navigator with more than 4,000 flight hours. His last assignment was Vice Commander for the 139th.