Commander of the 49th Maintenance Group Holloman AFB Relieved of Command

The United States Air Force made a highly unusual move that was reported this evening via a media release from Col. Justin Spears, commander of the 49th Wing, at Holloman Air Force base outside of Alamogordo, New Mexico, in announcing that Col. Danzel Albertsen, commander of the 49th Maintenance Group, was relieved of his command due to loss of confidence in his ability to lead. 

Col. Justin Spears, commander of the 49th Wing, relieved Albertsen when he “determined new leadership was necessary to ensure proper command climate and appropriate leadership of our Airmen,”

The deputy commander of the 49th Maintenance Group, Lt. Col. Kristen Torma, will assume command of the group immediately, per a statement from Holloman. 

Col. Danzel Albertsen had been in charge of the 49th Maintenance Group since June 2022. He was relieved by Col. Justin Spears, commander of the 49th Wing, on March 25.

A career maintenance officer, Albertsen oversaw the 49th Maintenance Group’s 2,100 maintenance personnel across four squadrons. The group was responsible for 82 F-16s, 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones and 12 Ground Control Stations, totaling $2.5 billion in total assets, according to his Air Force biography.

A native of Saint Joseph, Missouri, Albertsen was commissioned in 2001 through Officer Training School and has commanded twice at the squadron level. His awards and decorations include Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal,
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters,  Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and ten oak leaf clusters, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and a NATO Medal.

Holloman is the primary training site for F-16 and MQ-9 pilots, training more than 150 F-16 pilots and 700 MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators annually. The wing supports 21,000 military and civilian personnel through the 635th Materiel Maintenance Group and the 704th Test Group.

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