Change of Command ceremony planned

  • Published
  • By Janaé Daniels
  • AEDC/PA
Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. --  AEDC will hold a Change of Command ceremony July 13 at the 718th Test Squadron, Building 1088, to welcome the 26th commander, Col. Michael Panarisi and family. 

Colonel Panarisi is currently the commander of the 412th Operations Group at Edwards AFB, Calif. 

He deployed to Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia for operations Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom. After his tour, he was selected for a Joint Tour as the Strategic Analysis Branch chief at Headquarters, U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. 

Colonel Panarisi is a Master Navigator with more than 2,000 flight hours in 39 aircraft types and nearly 100 combat and support missions. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal. 

He is married to the former Rebecca Sue Smith of Oak Forest, Ill. They have a son and a daughter.