The 85th Group officially ended 55 years of Air Force service at NAS Keflavik, Iceland, on June 29. Col. Phillip Gibbons, the 85th Group commander, formally relinquished command and encased the unit’s colors. Most recently, the group handled flight operations for HH-60 helicopters, KC-130 tankers, and F-15s. Air Force officials credit the group’s 56th Rescue Squadron with making more than 308 saves during operations from 1971 to 2003 in the North Atlantic.
Three Air Force MAJCOMs Get New Leaders
Nov. 6, 2025
With less pomp and public attention because of the government shutdown, three Air Force major commands have gained new leaders in the past week—continuing a major revamp of the service’s senior leadership.
