KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Maj. Andrew Peterson took command of the 81st Contracting Squadron during a change of command ceremony July 16, at the Roberts Maintenance Facility, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi.
Col. Susan Airola-Skully, 81st Mission Support Group commander, officiated the ceremony.
As the new commander, Peterson is responsible for approximately 45 personnel. The 81st CONS provides world-class contracting support and business solutions to ensure the mission accomplishment of the 81st Training Wing, Keesler’s tenant units and Vance AFB, Oklahoma. The squadron is responsible for the acquisition and administration of construction, services and commodities valued at more than $400 million and for deploying contingency contracting officers to enable the sustainment of military operations worldwide.
Peterson was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 2003 after graduating from the Ohio State University. He has served as the deputy director of staff at the Air Force Contracting Agency and deputy director, 770th Business Support Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. His experience includes serving in systems and operational contracting, including deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. Prior to being selected as the 81st CONS commander, he graduated from Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
Lt. Col. David Wilson is the outgoing squadron commander. During Wilson’s tenure, the squadron received an “Excellent” in all categories and sub-categories during the 2012 Air Education and Training Command Inspector General Combined Unit Inspection, as well as an “Effective” rating during the 2014 Unit Effectiveness Inspection and recognition for its Continuous Improvement initiatives. Across both inspections, multiple personnel were recognized as “Professional Performers”.
Furthermore, 81st CONS personnel have received major command, wing, and group level awards in addition to contributing 25 percent of the Best Practices across the wing, in support of Keesler’s recognition as the “Best Base in the Air Force”, 2013 Commander in Chief, Installation Excellence Award.
Wilson has been assigned to the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Robins AFB, Georgia.