Cramer Attends 91st Missile Wing Change of Command Ceremony at Minot Air Force Base

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MINOT, N.D. - Defense leaders and U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee, joined Airmen and families today at Minot Air Force Base for a 91st Missile Wing change of command ceremony. During the ceremony, Col. George Chapman assumed command of the 91st Missile Wing, succeeding Col. Jimmy Schlabach.

As commander, Chapman will lead more than 1,800 Airmen and civilians responsible for the nation's land-based nuclear deterrence mission. The wing operates, maintains, and secures 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) across 15 missile alert facilities and 150 remote launch sites spanning roughly 8,500 square miles in central North Dakota. It is one of three operational ICBM wings in the U.S. Air Force.

"The 91st Missile Wing is at the heart of America's nuclear deterrent, standing watch every day to keep our nation safe," said Cramer. "The Airmen who serve this mission perform one of the most crucial jobs in national defense. Thank you, Col. Jimmy Schlabach, for your dedicated service to our country. Your leadership has strengthened the 91st Missile Wing and left a lasting mark on Minot, our state, and the men and women you have led. It's also great to welcome Col. George Chapman back home to the 91st Missile Wing. He knows this mission, he knows these Airmen, he knows this incredible Minot community, and I have every confidence he'll continue the wing's tradition of excellence while serving North Dakota and our nation with distinction."

Chapman previously served as deputy commander of the 91st Missile Wing from June 2023 to June 2025 and as deputy commander of the 20th Air Force at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, where he helped oversee another portion of the nation's ICBM force and sustain global nuclear deterrence operations. A career missile officer, Chapman was commissioned in 2003 through ROTC at Brigham Young University and has held key operational, instructional, and staff roles across the nuclear enterprise, including assignments at U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Central Command, the Air Force Warfare Center, and the Pentagon's Joint Staff.

Schlabach relinquished command after assuming leadership of the wing in 2024. A Purdue University graduate, Schlabach has held multiple operational and command roles within the ICBM community, including command of the 319th Missile Squadron and the 91st Operations Group. His career includes extensive nuclear operations experience and more than 7,000 hours of strategic alert duty. Highlights of his major operations service include Operation Olympic Rampart during COVID-19 and post-9/11 deterrence posture operations.