Ceremony Installs Air Force Range Commander

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Charles E. "Buck" MacLaughlin II officially took command of the Avon Park Air Force Range on Thursday with a formal Assumption of Command Ceremony at the base near Avon Park.

MacLaughlin leads Detachment 1 of the 23rd Wing, which is assigned the mission of providing a world-class training complex for air-ground combat teams while supporting missions for national defense.

Detachment 1 is responsible for operating the Avon Park Air-Ground Training Complex, which includes more than 20,000 square miles of airspace; a Deployed Unit Complex located at MacDill Air Force Base and the Avon Park Air Force Range.

MacLaughlin received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1991 and began his Air Force career. He completed undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.

His first operational assignment was as an A/OA-10 pilot stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., followed by a remote assignment to Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

While flying the Warthog, a twin-engine jet aircraft that provides close air support of ground forces, MacLaughlin accrued move than 80 hours of combat time in operation Southern Watch.

In November 1999, MacLaughlin converted to the F-117A Stealth Fighter at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.

MacLaughlin took command of the Avon Park Air Force Range in July 2008.

The outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Pechiney (Snake), is currently at Fort Bragg, N.C., and will eventually be assigned to a unit in Afghanistan, according to the Air Force.