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Air Task Group 630 has welcomed a new rotation of personnel for its Middle East deployment.
Royal Australian Air Force Wing Commander Darren Lines has transferred authority to Wing Commander Alastair Robertson during a handover ceremony near Camp Baird, to mark the arrival of new personnel deployed in the Middle East as part of Air Task Group (ATG) 630.
WGCDR Lines noted the contribution of his contingent to the mission over the past six months.
“During our tenure, we saw the completion of the mission for the E-7A Wedgetail and KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport, as well as supporting the reduction of Australia’s Operation Highroad,” he said.
“This is in addition to our continuing missions across the region, including with the United Nations, humanitarian and disaster relief missions to Lebanon, and support to task elements in Kingpin, the control agency managed by the United States Air Force, and the Combined Air Operations Centre.
“The team maintained a high rate of effort and I’m extremely proud of what they achieved.”
WGCDR Robertson thanked his predecessors for their service, adding that his new contingent is prepared to assume responsibilities and build on the work completed by WGCDR Lines and his team.
“My team and I are deeply honoured to carry on the work of those who have gone before,” WGCDR Robertson said.
“As we head towards the centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force next year, I am proud and privileged to command the Air Task Group as we approach this extraordinary service milestone.”
The handover ceremony also recognised personnel who were completing their deployment, including members of the C-130J Task Element, TE 630.1.6.
The ceremony was also attended by Joint Task Force 633 personnel, with the commander, Major General Susan Coyle, and coalition partners.
