143rd Airlift Wing gets new commander

NORTH KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) - The airlift wing of the Rhode Island Air National Guard is getting a new commander.

Officials say Col. Lawrence Gallogly is retiring from the force and will be replaced by Col. Arthur Floru.

The airlift wing is expected to honor Gallogly and welcome Floru during a change-of-command ceremony scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the Quonset Air National Guard Base in North Kingstown.

Maj. Gen. Kevin McBride, adjutant general of Rhode Island and the commanding general of the National Guard, praised Gallogly for his highly-decorated years of service.

His successor is a veteran of military operations in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Most recently Floru served as commander of the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in Afghanistan, where he led the largest airlift squadron in the war zone.