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News release: Cannon's next commander announced

Air Force Special Operations Command officially released the 2012 Air Force Command Screening list, Dec. 14.

Among the nearly 400 senior leader assignments revealed, the list named the Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., next 27th Special Operations Wing commander.

Col. Tony Bauernfeind will assume command of the 27 SOW sometime during upcoming 2013 summer. An exact change of command date has not yet been determined.

Colonel Bauernfeind currently serves as the 1st Special Operations Group commander at Hurlburt Field, Fla., where he leads nearly 1,500 Air Commandos that provide the full spectrum specialized airpower to combatant commanders executing special operations missions.

Colonel Bauernfeind has commanded Air Force special operations forces at the squadron and group level, and he has commanded joint special operations forces during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He has flown more than 3,400 hours as an aircraft commander, instructor pilot and evaluator pilot in the MC-130E and MC-130H aircraft.

"The Air Commandos at Cannon will be in great hands," said Col. Buck Elton, current 27 SOW commander. "Colonel Bauernfeind and his wife Trisha are a fantastic team."

Col. Bill West, 27th Special Operations Group commander, was also selected to assume command of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., this summer.