Cannon AFB welcomes new commander

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (KRQE-KBIM) - The New Mexico air force base that fought so hard to stay open has a new leader.

Col. Stephen Clark took over the top job at Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis Wednesday during a traditional change-of-command ceremony.

Several hundred military men and women as well as many community members attended the ceremony and heard Clark say it's an exciting time for everyone on the base.

Clark will lead the more than 2,000 airman of the 27th Special Operations Wing . He succeeds Col. Timothy Leahy who led the 27th SOW for nearly two years.

Leahy said he's proud of the multimillion-dollar improvements to the base under his watch and commended the airmen there for keeping America safe.

After accepting command of his new post Clark told the crowd that today he's honored, but tomorrow his work begins. In a later interview he said the core job of the base remains the same.

"It is really about taking care of the mission and getting that done," Clark said. "It's really up to our airmen to do that.

"My responsibility and my commanders responsibility is to make sure they have the resources and the training required and some guidance and leadership that will enable them to go out on the battlefield and execute the mission."

The 27th SOW uses advanced aircraft and tactics for everything from attack missions to rescue missions. It specializes in surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Leahy is moving on to his next assignment in Florida where he will be the assistant to the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command at McDill Air Force Base.

Cannon had been a fighter base scheduled for closure before it was given it's special-operations assignment in 2007. Community, state and congressional leaders had rallied to save the base.