Wright Patterson Air Force Base is getting a new commander today. Col. John Devillier will lead Wright-Patt’s 88th Air Base Wing as Col. Cassie Barlow retires after 26 years in the military.
The 88th is one of the largest air base wings in the U.S. Air Force, with more than 5,000 military, civilian, and contractor employees. In a change of command ceremony scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Devillier will take the reigns from retiring Col. Cassie Barlow, who has served as wing commander since July 17, 2012.
“It has been an incredible honor to be able to lead the 88th air base wing for the last two years, and it’s bittersweet, cause it’s always hard to leave, it’s always hard to leave the people, but I also look forward to the next chapter," Barlow said in an interview last month. Barlow headed the based during a time that included several emergency furloughs and the constant threat of layoffs and budget cuts.
Devillier comes to Wright-Patt from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, and he’ll serve the next two years as commamder of the 88th wing. Prior to serving in his current command, he was the commander of the 466th Air Expeditionary Group in Afghanistan.
