The 15th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam will transfer command May 18 from Col. Giovanni Tuck to Col. Sam Barrett. The ceremony will also re-designate the 15th Airlift Wing to the 15th Wing.

The change of command ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. at the Freedom Tower Mall. Barrett is the 15th Airlift Wing vice commander, the Air Force said.

Barrett is an Air Force Academy graduate. He subsequently earned three master's degrees, officials said. He is a command pilot with more than 4,200 hours in the C-141B, T-1A, KC-135R/T and C-40B.

As the 15th Airlift Wing vice commander, Barrett assisted the wing commander in providing operations and support functions for worldwide missions and command leadership for the operation and maintenance of Hickam and Wake Island airfields. The wing also supports 67 tenant units across Hawai'i and throughout the Pacific theater.