Hatley takes charge of 74th APS

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cris Medina
  • 433rd Airlift Wing
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  

The 74th Aerial Port Squadron welcomed new commander, Lt. Col. Travis J. Hatley, during a change of command ceremony Nov. 6 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Col. David W. Enfield Jr., 433rd Mission Support Group commander, presided over the ceremony.

Enfield began by praising Hatley’s commitment to excellence and thanking his family for their support.

“I’m confident you’ll do great things for the unit,” Enfield said. “Thanks to you and your family for taking on this responsibility. I don’t think of any us would be successful in any measure without the help and support of their family.”

Hatley earned his Air Force commission in 2000 as a graduate of the ROTC program at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. He has held numerous positions at base and wing levels, including commanding the largest logistics readiness squadron in the Air Force Reserve Command.

In his first address to his new squadron, Hatley opened his remarks by thanking his family and the people who have mentored and guided him throughout his career.

“The people we surround ourselves with encourage us to become the best version of ourselves,” he said.

Hatley framed his new role as a squadron commander by reading the definition of opportunity.

“As written in the dictionary; ‘opportunity is a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something,’ The bigger the challenge, the bigger the opportunity,” he said. “Look at this squadron, 246 Airmen, a super port, one of only of maybe a dozen of its kind in AFRC, who wouldn’t want an opportunity like this. I love the opportunity to lead and grow Airmen. You are the elite segment of our nation.”

Hatley replaces Lt. Col. James A. Hearn III, who will remain a part of the 433rd Mission Support Group family, serving as the group’s deputy commander.  

“Usually a change of command ceremony is a bittersweet occasion; however, (Hearn) won’t be going far away,” said Enfield. “It’s really a win-win situation for us all.”

Responsiblities of the 74th Aerial Port Squadron include cargo processing, aircraft loading/unloading, joint inspection, mobility functions, load-team supervision, engine running on loads and offloads, manning the home station and deployed air terminal operations centers, airlift control element, transportation control unit and air departure arrival control group operations.