Capt. Barnes takes command of SCW-1

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  • By Megan Prather, Staff Writer

Strategic Communications Wing ONE, Task Group 114.2 gathered in an aircraft maintenance hangar on Aug. 9 to welcome their newest commander, Capt. Anthony Barnes, during a change of command ceremony.

Barnes took command from Capt. Michael Black.

“He’s a powerhouse Naval Officer and a better man,” Black said of Barnes during his remarks to hundreds of Sailors and guests. “He’s the right leader at the right time.”

Barnes takes command of SCW-1 after serving as deputy commander, Strategic Communications Wing ONE and Task Force 124, later Task Group 114.2. His sea duty assignments include tours with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron FOUR at Tinker Air Force Base as a junior officer qualifying as an E6A airborne communications officer instructor and mission commander evaluator; with the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-43) in Yokosuka, Japan, as the assistant navigator deploying to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he qualified as officer of the deck underway and command duty officer underway; with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron THREE as the maintenance officer and with the “Shadows” of VQ-4 as commanding officer.

“What TACAMO does day in and day out is absolutely impressive,” Barnes said. “...we ask a lot of our sailors and they never falter or fail.”

Black will retire after 26 years of Naval service. During his service, he logged more than 4,500 flight hours in six different military aircraft and his personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and various other service and unit awards.

“The best duty station we’ve ever had, by far and the only place we call home is right here at Tinker, and it’s because of the support of the community,” Black said.