OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- The 1st Weather Group held a change of command ceremony June 21, 2024, at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. During the ceremony, Col. Damon Vorhees relinquished command to. Col. Kenneth Chilcoat.
Chilcoat comes to the 1 WXG after serving as the Division Chief, Policy, and Readiness for the Directorate of Air Force Weather. He led a 12-member team responsible for developing policy for the departments of the Air Force and Army, managing the operational readiness of enterprise forces, and directing inter-agency and international exchanges and agreements in support of United States national security objectives.
"I am incredibly honored to assume command of the 1st Weather Group,” said Chilcoat. “I have immense admiration for the invaluable contributions our operational weather squadrons make to both the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense.
Chief Popovich and I are thrilled to join this esteemed team and are committed to build upon the outstanding achievements of Col. Vorhees and Chief Perry in preparing the Air Force for the challenges of Great Power Competition."
Chief Master Sgt. Jonathan M. Popovich is the new Senior Enlisted Leader of the 1st Weather Group. He will be leading, mentoring, and developing over 950 officers, enlisted, and civilian Airmen assigned to 6 geographically separated squadrons across the globe.
Col. Vorhees spoke on his time serving alongside Chief Master Sgt. Perry, his senior enlisted advisor.
“Leading and working alongside the airmen of 1st Weather Group over the past two years has been a true honor,” said Vorhees. They have directly enabled the success of numerous Department of Defense and Air Force missions across the globe and, delivered outcomes for the Nation.
Chief Perry and I look forward to seeing where Col. Chilcoat and Chief Popovich will take the group next and wish them success.”
The 1st WXG is comprised of six operational weather squadrons each assigned to a different geographic combatant command. Their weather forecast products protect more than two million military personnel, their families and almost a trillion dollars in DOD assets around the world.