Minot Air Base Missile Wing Gets New Leader

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Minot Air Force Base has a new missile wing commander, and it might be in line for more personnel.

Command of the 91st Missile Wing was transferred Tuesday from Col. Robert Vercher to Col. Michael Lutton.

The two essentially are switching jobs. Vercher will become deputy director of mission assessment and analysis at U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska — a position Lutton has held the past two years. Vercher has commanded the 91st Missile Wing during the same time period.

The Minot base oversees 150 Minuteman III missiles buried in the countryside. It also is home to B-52 bombers. The two wings are assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees nuclear missiles and bombers and is expected to soon get 1,000 more personnel.