721st MSG activates squadron

The 721st Mission Support Group commander, Col. Joseph J. Turk, Jr., will activate the 721st Civil Engineer Squadron at 10 a.m. July 17 in Mountain Man Park on Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station.

As part of the ceremony, Turk will assign leadership of the squadron to Dino Bonaldo II. Bonaldo will be the civilian lead of the newly activated squadron, as the 721st CES is 100 percent civilian manned. The civilian 'squadron commander' equivalent is a unique feature in today's Air Force.

The 721st CES was deactivated Feb. 1, 2004, after a determination by Air Force leaders to outsource some civil engineer activities to a private contractor. In April 2011, a presidential directive, Resource Management Decision 802, provided for the squadron in-sourcing efforts. The ceremony represents the unit's return to a squadron status.

Turk will pass the squadron's guidon to the last active duty commander, retired Lt. Col. Todd Wynn, and in a symbol of squadron tradition, Wynn will transfer the guidon to Bonaldo.

Media interested in covering this event can contact the 21st Space Wing public affairs office at 556-5185 or via email at 21sw.pa@us.af.mil to RSVP by noon July 16.