Pankau takes command at Rosecrans Published March 11, 2011 By Master Sgt. Mike Smith 139th Airlift Wing ST JOSEPH, Mo. -- Col. Mike Pankau took command of the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard, Feb. 14 here at Rosecrans Air Guard Base. Col. Pankau will continue as wing commander until a permanent commander is selected by the adjutant general of Missouri. Pankau's appointment follows the absence of Col. Mike McEnulty, who departed to serve with the state's Adjutant General's Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters. "Colonel McEnulty did a great job," said Pankau. "My intent is to keep the organization moving in the same direction, with the focus on our mission, our families and safety." Pankau served his entire 26-year military career with the wing. His deployments include Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, as a tactics planner, a director of operations and as a mission commander, among others. The colonel was also assigned as commander of the Air National Guard's Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center here, 2004 to 2006. The center provides advanced tactical training to Air Force, Marine Corps and multi-national airlift aircrews. Pankau's last position was as wing Vice Commander, which he held for nearly five years. "I always aspired to serve as the vice commander, and now I am pleased and ready for the challenges of command," he said.