Col. Vincent J. Teuber assumed command Friday of the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, the Air Force's mobility center for teaching defensive flying to airlift crews. It also is a clearinghouse for gathering and disseminating airlift tactics.

The colonel was a student at the training center in 1999.

"I was truly impressed with the amount of knowledge instructors had, their professionalism and their passion," the new commander said. "Now, I still see the passion, motivation and professionalism."

Everything learned as a student at the school kept the colonel going.

"I tell my staff that if they want to take care of me, take care of the students," Mr. Teuber said. "We're here to work for the students."

That's something he says repeatedly, said Maj. Barb Denny, a spokeswoman for the 139th Airlift Wing.

Mr. Teuber assumed command in a ceremony Friday with former school commander Col. Michael McEnulty, now the Wing commander, when the two men passed the training center flag in front of about 200 members of the Wing.

Brig. Gen. Stephen Cotter, chief of staff for the Missouri Air National Guard, and Col. John Rutkowski, chief of the Air Mobility Command's Combat Tactics, were in attendance.

Mr. Teuber, a Riverhead, N.Y., native, was commissioned in 1984 after earning a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics from the Citadel in Charleston, S.C. From July 2004 to February 2007, Col Teuber served as the commander of the 514th Flight Test Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

He provided the final quality assurance for all A-10, C-130, F-16 and F-22 aircraft following depot maintenance and modification at the Ogden Air Logistics Center. He also oversaw nearly 1,000 high-risk flight test sorties each year.

Mr. Teuber was appointed vice commander of the training center in February 2008. He is the second Air Force reservist to command the center in its 26 years of history.

The colonel's wife, Kathleen, and his mother, Anna, also were in attendance.

Marshall White can be contacted

at marshall@npgco.com.