New 88th Air Base Wing commander

Col. Bradley D. Spacy speaks to members of the news media after taking command of the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio on July 14. The wing is comprised of more than 5,000 Airmen, civilian employees and contractor personnel who operate, maintain and defend one of the Air Force's largest and most organizationally diverse installations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ben Strasser).

88th ABW Change of Command

A formation of 88th Air Base Wing Airmen and civilian employees and equipment frame the site of the Wing change of command ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Colonel Bradley D. Spacy succeeded Col. Colleen Ryan during the July 14 event which took place in a historic World War Two-era hangar adjacent to the base flightline. Lt. Gen. Jack Hudson, commander of the Aeronautical Systems Center, presided. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ben Strasser).

88th ABW Change of Command

Lt. Gen. Jack Hudson, Aeronautical Systems Center commander, passes the colors for the 88th Air Base Wing to Col. Bradley D. Spacy, during a change of command ceremony in Hangar 206 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio July 14. Colonel Spacy, a career Security Forces officer, succeeded Col. Colleen Ryan (right), who is retiring. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ben Strasser).

New commander takes reigns at Wright-Patt

Published July 14, 2008

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Col. Bradley D. Spacy succeeded Col. Colleen M. Ryan as commander of the 88th Air Base Wing during a 10 a.m. change of command ceremony at Hangar 206 here Monday, July 14.

Colonel Ryan has commanded the 88th Air Base Wing, the host unit at Wright-Patt, since June 2006. She is retiring from the Air Force and plans to live in Dayton.

Colonel Spacy is a 1987 Air Force ROTC graduate from Fresno State University in Fresno, California. He is a career Security Forces officer with extensive experience in Air Base Defense, Antiterrorism and Force Protection. He comes to the Miami Valley from Scott Air Force Base, Ill. where he most recently served as commander of the 375th Mission Support Group. A veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Col. Spacy later served as the director of force protection for U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward in support of Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom. During his tour Col. Spacy created, planned, and participated in Operation Desert Safeside/Task Force 1041, an offensive ground combat operation to kill or capture insurgent forces attacking Balad Air Base, Iraq. His previous commands include the 47th Security Forces Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas and the United States Air Force Honor Guard at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.

Colonel Spacy is married and has two daughters.

As commander of the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson, Col. Spacy leads more than 5,000 officers, enlisted, Air Force civilian and contractor employees responsible for three primary mission areas: operating the installation; deploying expeditionary Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism; and defending the base and its people.

Lt. Gen. Jack Hudson, Aeronautical Systems Center commander, presided over the ceremony, which was conducted before a formation of 88th ABW Airmen and civilian employees.