Colonel Harry Oostema of the Royal Netherlands Air Force assumed command of the Strategic Airlift Capability Heavy Airlift Wing in an official ceremony held 3 July 2025 at HDF 47th Air Base in Pápa, Hungary.
The ceremony was attended by approximately 200 guests representing the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) personnel, the SAC Steering Board (the governing body of the multinational program), the Hungarian Ministry of Defence, embassies of the 12 SAC nations and organizations affiliated with the program.
The Heavy Airlift Wing, the operational unit of the SAC program, is the first and only operational multinational military airlift unit in the world and its traditions reflect the military cultures of the 12 nations. One universal feature of change of command ceremonies seen also on 3 July was the handover of the unit flag symbolizing the transfer of the authority of the commander.
The audience observed as Brigadier General Scott Rowe, the Chairman of the SAC Steering Board, received the Heavy Airlift Wing flag from the outgoing Commander, Colonel Jason T. Mills of the United States Air Force and handed it over to Colonel Harry Oostema of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
Colonel Oostema has served as the Vice Commander of the Heavy Airlift Wing since June 2023. In his address to the audience he emphasized the uniqueness of the wings capability and the high level of team work.
“A program like this can only be as successful as we are by having a great team working together and supporting each other. With this I mean Nato Airlift Management Programme (NAMP), Boeing and Hungary as host nation; the Hungarian Ministry of Defence, the HDF 47th Air Base, the Hungarian Military Aviation Authority and not least the city of Pápa with great support from the Mayor. We all need each other to make it work and I am looking very much forward to continue building bridges together and to strengthen our friendship.”
The outgoing commander Colonel Mills looked back at four successful years at the wing and praised the personnel of the HAW.
“To the men and women of the HAW; I have been truly blessed to be a part of these last four years. When I took command I talked about being STRONG because of our diversity of background, AGILE in our ability to support not just local, but global crisis and being put in this place and time to CARE not just for each other, but for the struggles and challenges of our Nations and the world. You are truly an elite group and have taken my challenge to promote these values wholeheartedly. Where will you go next and how tremendous will your impact be – I can’t wait to see.”
Today also marked another change in the leadership of the Heavy Airlift Wing as Colonel Jim Pike of the United States Air Force was appointed to be the Vice Commander of the Wing.
Since its start the wing has flown 3,786 missions (13,555 sorties), delivered 249,850,577 lbs of cargo (113,300 t) and transported 174,111 people.