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Meet the new 23 IS commander

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Jasmine Mossbarger
  • 23rd Intelligence Squadron, 655th ISR Wing Public Affairs

An assumption of command ceremony was held here April 10, 2021 as Col. Jennifer Mulder, commander of the 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, passed the guidon to Lt. Col. Stephanie “Chappy” Hahn, the new commander for the 23rd Intelligence Squadron.

Hahn replaced Lt. Col. Sarah Yoshida, who served as the 23 IS commander from June 2019 to February 2021. Hahn has more than 16 years in the intelligence field and was previously dual hatted as the deputy commander and director of staff for the 512th Intelligence Squadron.

Hahn is a graduate of Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia, where she earned a bachelors in political science. She earned two masters degrees from Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, and Air Command and Staff College, respectively.

As the daughter of a military family, Hahn understands the significance and responsibility of taking command.

“My assumption of command means the world not just to me, but to my entire family. Having two retired O-6 parents, both of whom were commanders, it was both a proud and humbling moment for all of us. For my children, although they are young, I want them to see that girls – and one day the women they will become – can do anything they set their minds to,” she said.

When asked to define her leadership style, Hahn quoted John C. Maxwell. “True leadership must be for the benefit of the followers, not to enrich the leader.” Hahn wholeheartedly believes in the tenant of servant leadership and modeling respect for others regardless of their rank or position. The new commander’s top priorities are, “Take Care of the Mission, Take Care of Airmen and Be Innovative.”

During her tenure, Hahn will work to operationalize 23 IS Unit Training Assemblies so members can continue to make strides in the mission space. She will also focus on fostering community and promoting resiliency in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hahn challenged 23 IS personnel to propose creative ways that meet both goals.

Colonel Mulder, in her remarks at the assumption of command ceremony stated, “I was blown away by both the caliber of Airmen I met [in the 23 IS] at every turn and the mission they are executing. It is clear to me why they were selected out of 14 squadrons to be the Wing’s unit of the year for 2020. These Airmen provided two CYBERCOM joint task forces with 3,100 days of additional manpower, analyzed two terabytes of data, drove the development of a new cyber tool, to name a few of their accomplishments, all while working through the challenges and limitations of a global pandemic. Chappy, you are being charged with leading an amazing team.”