TACC commander visits Grand Forks

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Joseph Kapinos
  • 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Maj. Gen. Mark Solo, commander of the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, Scott AFB, Ill, visited the Warriors of the North Oct. 28 and 29 as part of a familiarization tour of all wings under TACC's control.

TACC is responsible for planning, scheduling and directing a fleet of more than 1,200 aircraft in support of combat delivery and strategic airlift, air refueling and aeromedical operations around the world.

General Solo, who has accrued time in the KC-135 Stratotanker, visited with Airmen at various locations around the base, met with wing leadership as well as civilian dignitaries and toured the facilities of the base, giving the general a taste of Warrior life and what Grand Forks has to offer to the war fighter.

"It is the crews, the people and the planes that execute our mission," remarked General Solo. "My goal with this visit is to come and meet the people, visit the bases, see their facilities and what they have to offer. I am a visual person and wanted to see what Grand Forks, as well as the other wings, can offer, giving me a better understanding of what is needed when I go back to Scott."

"Every day, we [TACC] plan over 900 sorties a day," added the General. "When I look at what Grand Forks is going to be contributing to that effort, I will now have a much better view of what it takes for this wing to make the mission happen."

Visiting Airmen from across the wing, the "Bring It" attitude and high morale of the teammates here was not lost on the veteran pilot.

"The enthusiasm of this wing is overwhelming," General Solo commented. "When you have 10 aircraft and the associated crews and support people deployed to support our mission in the Global War on Terror, it is even more impressive to see the enthusiasm and morale of the folks here."

"It's heartwarming, really," he added with a smile.

General Solo was commissioned in 1978 from Michigan State University and has served in a number of operation positions, including squadron, group and wing-level commands. He is a command pilot with more than 4,900 flying hours in the C-141, C-5, KC-135 and C-17.