Port dogs welcome new commander Published Sept. 7, 2014 By Tech. Sgt. Carlos J. Trevino 433 AW JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND -- Lt. Col. James A. Hearn assumed command of the 74th Aerial Port Squadron from Lt. Col. Laurence B. Harris at a Change of Command ceremony on September 7, 2014 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Colonel Craig S. Petersen, 433rd Mission Support Group commander, presided over the ceremony. "I didn't have to go far to find a new commander for the 74th Aerial Port Squadron, he was right here in my own back yard," Col. Petersen said. "I have enormous trust and confidence in Jim's leadership. He is a warrior who understands the mission." "He has been waiting for the opportunity to return to the world of port dogs," he said. Lt. Col. Hearn was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer training Corps in December 1995 at Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas. He has served a variety of transportation and logistics readiness positions at the detachment, squadron and MAJCOM levels. He separated from active duty in October 2007, and became a Traditional Reservist in June 2009. Previously, he was the 433rd Logistics Readiness Squadron commander. "I would like to thank my family for supporting my career. I wouldn't be the person, leader, husband, father or the Airman today without your steady influence and love," Hearn said. "Men and women of the 74th Aerial Port Squadron, I am ready to get to work. I had 4 hours off today, that was plenty, and I am ready to go," he said to the amusement of the crowd. Aerial Port responsibilities include cargo processing, aircraft loading/unloading, joint inspection, mobility functions, load-team supervision, engine running on-loads/off-loads, manning home-station and deployed air terminal operations centers, airlift control element, transportation control unit and air departure arrival control group operations.