366th OG welcomes new commander Published May 13, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Rodney D. Ivey 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Col. James J. McGovern assumed command of the 366th Operations Group in a change-of-command ceremony May 12 at hangar 1333. Colonel McGovern replaces Col. John K. McMullen, whose next assignment is as the chief of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction division at the Pentagon. Colonel McGovern was most recently assigned as the senior researcher at the Air War College Center for Strategy and Technology, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. He has also served as commander of the 492nd Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, U.K., and as the executive officer, Deputy Directorate for Information Operations, Joint Staff J-3 at the Pentagon. Colonel McGovern was commissioned through the United States Air Force Academy, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering science in 1987. He completed Air Command and Staff College in 2000, and received a Master of Strategic Studies from the Air War College in 2007. Col. James Browne, 366th Fighter Wing commander, shared his thoughts on the recent performance of the operations group. "Over the past two years [the operations group has] executed our mission flawlessly," he said. "You have met 100 percent of the combatant commander's taskings that required combat power around the globe. Quite simply, you embodied our Air Force's core value of excellence in all we do." "To the men and women of the 366th Operations Group, beyond the distant borders of this great nation lurk dangers and challenges as yet unidentified," said Colonel McGovern. "We must be smarter. We must advance our training in a multi-dimensional fashion, while taking care of our people and retaining the precious blood of our workforce." "Innovation is the key and I intend to tap into the keen and eager minds that are the generator in the engine that powers the Gunfighters to victory," he added.