Bayou Militia welcomes new commander

May 20, 2015August 13, 2015 Louisiana National Guard 6529 Views ANG, Belle Chasse, ceremony, change of command, Col. Shawn Coco, Col. Thomas Sostarics, LAANG, LANG, Louisiana Air National Guard

Maj. Gen. Glenn H. Curtis, adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard, passes the colors to Col. Shawn Coco, incoming wing commander, held at the 159th Fighter Wing Hangar 5, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Belle Chasse, La., on May 17, 2015. The exchange of colors is a symbolic transfer of all duty and responsibilities of the wing from one commander to another.(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Toby M. Valadie, 159th Public Affairs Office/RELEASED) — Maj. Gen. Glenn H. Curtis, adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard, passes the colors to Col. Shawn Coco, incoming wing commander, held at the 159th Fighter Wing Hangar 5, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Belle Chasse, La., on May 17, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Toby M. Valadie, 159th Public Affairs Office/RELEASED)

By 1st. Lt. Larissa Lambert, 159th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office

BELLE CHASSE, La. – Col. Shawn M. Coco accepted command of the Louisiana Air National Guard’s 159th Fighter Wing from outgoing commander Col. Thomas P. Sostarics, Sunday, during a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans.

The ceremony included the exchange of the Wing’s colors, which symbolizes the transfer of command authority, accountability and responsibility from one commander to another.

Coco served more than 10 years on active duty before joining the LAANG in 2004. He is a command pilot with over 3,500 flying hours and over 440 combat hours in the F-15 Eagle, AT-38 Talon and MC-12 Liberty. He served in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Operation Crescent Guard following Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, Coco has served as a squadron commander, group commander and as the vice wing commander for the 159th FW.

Coco said that it is a privilege to serve as commander of the Wing and rewarding to be a member of the Louisiana Air National Guard.

“The F-15 is renowned as the #1 fighter jet in history,” Coco said. “But as valuable and impressive as those jets are, they pale in comparison to the Airmen of our Wing.”

After serving for two years as commander, Sostarics has been assigned to LAANG Headquarters as the Director of Operations.

Sostarics was presented the Louisiana Legion of Merit for his exceptional leadership of the 159th’s more than 1,400 Airmen. The Wing has participated in various exercises such as Exercise Cope Tiger in Thailand, which had a 99.1% success rate, and Exercise Juniper Stallion in Israel. Sostarics also had a major role in coordinating patient evacuation with military and civilian agencies in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster.

“I have been blessed with the best Airmen I have ever worked with. Your devotion to duty, professionalism and excellence is reflected in the work you do; always with a smile on your face,” Sostarics said. “The 159th Fighter Wing has so many great Airmen; it’s been an honor and privilege serving as your commander.”

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