353 SOW conducts Change of Command Ceremony

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, commander Air Force Special Operations Command, passes the organizational flag of the 353rd Special Operations Wing to Col. Stewart Parker, incoming 353rd SOW commander, during a change of command ceremony at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 18, 2025. The ceremony formally transferred command of the 353rd SOW from Col. Shawn Young to Col. Parker. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amy Kelley)

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353 SOW conducts Change of Command Ceremony

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing give their first salute to Col. Stewart Parker, incoming 353rd SOW commander, during a change of command ceremony at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 18, 2025. The 353rd SOW plans and executes general war and contingency operations using advanced aircraft, tactics, and techniques to infiltrate, exfiltrate, resupply, and support Special Operations Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amy Kelley)

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353 SOW conducts Change of Command Ceremony

U.S. Air Force Col. Shawn Young, left, 353rd Special Operations Wing outgoing commander, and Col. Stewart Parker, incoming 353rd SOW commander, listen to a speech from Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, during the 353rd SOW change of command ceremony at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 18, 2025. Conley thanked service members and honored guests for attending the ceremony and expressed appreciation for the outstanding service and dedication of the Airmen present. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amy Kelley)

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353 SOW conducts Change of Command Ceremony

U.S. Air Force Col. Shawn Young, outgoing 353rd Special Operations Wing commander, right, salutes Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, before relinquishing the organizational flag during a change of command ceremony at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 18, 2025. Exchanging the unit's colors is a tradition where the outgoing commander symbolically relinquishes responsibility and authority by passing the colors to the incoming commander, thus beginning a new dawn of leadership for the incoming commander and the wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amy Kelley)

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353 SOW conducts Change of Command Ceremony

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing give their last salute to Col. Shawn Young, outgoing 353rd SOW commander, during a change of command ceremony at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 18, 2025. The 353rd SOW is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, and deterring aggression. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amy Kelley)

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353 SOW conducts Change of Command Ceremony

Members of the Kadena Honor Guard present the colors during the 353rd Special Operations Wing change of command ceremony at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 18, 2025. The 353rd SOW plans and executes general war and contingency operations using advanced aircraft, tactics, and techniques to infiltrate, exfiltrate, resupply and support Special Operations Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amy Kelley)

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353 SOW conducts Change of Command Ceremony

Published June 23, 2025
By Airman 1st Class Amy Kelley
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --

The change of command ceremony formally transferred command of the 353rd Special Operations Wing from Col. Shawn Young to Col. Stewart Parker. The 353rd SOW plans and executes general war and contingency operations using advanced aircraft, tactics, and techniques to infiltrate, exfiltrate, resupply and support Special Operations Forces.