3/16/2011 - Col. Joseph Almodovar (right), the 440th Mission Support Group commander, is awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Col. Merle D. Hart, Commander, 440th Airlift Wing at the Base Theater, Pope Field, N.C., on March 5, 2011. Colonel Almodovar is leaving the 440th Airlift Wing to start an assignment with the USAF Transportation Command headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. “Leaving a command is part of the role as an officer and commander,” said Colonel Almodovar, “but you cannot get accustomed to leaving the people.” During his career, Colonel Almodovar's duties have included Chief of Finance and Accounting, squadron commander, Chief of Staff, and Deputy Group Commander Colonel Almodovar deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, from January 2004 until June 2004, to the Coalition Headquarters in the Green zone, where he served as the Chief of Staff /Operations Officer for the Strategic Communications Directorate and as the Coalition's Operations Security Program Manager. The 440th Airlift Wing leverages its unique capabilities of each component to create a team of professionals ready, willing and able to win today’s fight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter R. Miller)