JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
Members of the 433rd Civil Engineer Squadron gathered to welcome their new commander, Maj. Nathan Leuthold, during a change of command ceremony here, April 2, 2017 at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy auditorium. Col. David W. Enfield, 433rd Mission Support Group commander, presided over the ceremony.
Leuthold, a 2003 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, earned a Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering degree. He has held various positions at the wing and headquarters levels. He has experience with facility and infrastructure planning, programming, design, construction, operations and maintenance. He has deployed three times with two being joint expeditionary tasking with the U.S. Army.
Leuthold’s level of experience will fit nicely into the squadron.
“I am thankful that I am stepping into a unit where there is experience and proficient leaders throughout every level of the squadron,” Leuthold said. “It is within an abundance of counselors that there is safety,” he said.
The unit’s mission is to provide direct combat support of the Air Force Operational Forces by deploying postured Prime Beef teams worldwide to accomplish mission tasking which include force bed down, construction management, operations and maintenance, base recovery after attack, readiness/disaster preparedness, and fire protection. Supports essential explosive ordnance disposal war fighting requirements at in route and stateside bases, ranges and aerial ports.
In 2012, the unit was awarded an “Excellent” rating at the Operational Readiness Inspection. The 433rd CES has also built schools in foreign nations, and many members deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in 2016-2017. Locally, the unit contributed to fire suppression crews during Wildland fires in San Angelo, Texas. The unit also provided hazardous device countermeasure support for U.S. Secret Service for a Presidential visit to the area.