Col. Michael Gallucci has been appointed as the new commander of the 42nd Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. A formal change of command ceremony was held, marking the transition from Col. Shamekia Toliver, who had led the wing since 2024.

Local Impact and Responsibilities

Col. Gallucci’s new role involves overseeing all base operations and service support for a community of 42,000 active duty, reserve, civilian, and contract personnel, as well as students and families at both Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex. His responsibilities extend to supporting the 908th Flying Training Wing, Air Force material command units, the defense information system agency, and over 40 other mission partners.

As the installation commander, Col. Gallucci will engage with local officials across a three-county, 12-city region. The base contributes an annual economic impact of $2.2 billion to the local economy, highlighting the importance of his collaboration with community leaders.

Col. Gallucci’s Background

Col. Gallucci enlisted in the Air Force in 1994 and has served in various roles within the security forces career field. He was commissioned in 2002 after attending Officer Training School. His career includes positions as a group commander, three-time squadron commander, and roles at the Headquarters Air Force level. He has been deployed in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College. Additionally, he served as a National Defense Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Before assuming his current position, Col. Gallucci was the Director of Force Protection Policy for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs in the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Policy. He holds a dual Air Force Specialty Code as a Political Military Affairs Strategist, further emphasizing his extensive experience and qualifications for this command role.

Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.