JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-CHAPMAN TRAINING ANNEX, Texas -- Maj. Megan Kell assumed command of the 717th Information Operations Squadron during a ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Florida, May 15.
Col. Thaddeus Janicki Jr., 860th Cyberspace Operations Group commander, officiated the ceremony.
“Maj. Kell respects and values her team, and I have no doubt she will bring great ideas and enthusiasm to the 717th IOS,” said Janicki. “All members can feel confident you are getting an outstanding new commander... The personnel of the 717th are a great example of what it means to ‘Aim High.’ I expect nothing but excellence in the coming years from Maj. Kell and her team at the 717th IOS.”
After accepting the guidon signifying her assumption of command of the unit, Kell briefly spoke to the squadron.
"I want you to know that communication and teamwork are really important to me,” said Kell. “I want us to create a strong support system together because I care about you and your families and I believe that together we will continue to make this unit great. Let's get to work!"
Prior to this assignment, Kell was the Air Force Reserve Command information operations functional manager at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.
The 717th IOS is a geographically separated unit of the 860th COG, located at Robins AFB, Georgia, and the 960th Cyberspace Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex, Texas. The unit’s mission is to provide exceptional, highly talented Airmen to conduct initial qualification training so graduates can plan and execute missions requiring cyberspace operations capabilities.
Editor's note: The information operations career field and 14F Air Force specialty code were created in late 2016. According to the Air Force Reserve Command Information Warfare office, Kell is the first 14F in the Air Force to take command of a unit.