Changing of the guard at South Jersey's joint base

She likened herself to a mayor, like those in the 10 municipalities around her.

But Air Force Brig. Gen. Gina M. Grosso, who Friday relinquished command of New Jersey's largest military base, had many responsibilities her civilian counterparts don't have.

She was the first commander of the nation's only contiguous tri-service base - and held that job during a historic melding process. She replaced the commanders of McGuire Air Force Base, Fort Dix, and Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station, installations spread over 65 square miles of Burlington and Ocean Counties.

On her watch, hundreds of millions of dollars were spent to upgrade housing and build new facilities as the branches combined and streamlined services.

On Friday, in a colorful ceremony attended by hundreds of military officials, civilians, and political leaders, Grosso gave up command to assume a Pentagon job as director of manpower, organization, and resources.

The new "mayor," Air Force Col. John M. Wood, takes over the area's largest employer, with more than 44,000 airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, civilians, and their families living and working in and around the base. A former Californian, he had commanded the 437th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

"I couldn't be more pleased to pass the flag," Grosso said during a sometimes-emotional farewell address to airmen standing in formation at a steamy hangar on the installation. "It's been my greatest honor to be the first commander of the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst."

Grosso, a Virginia native who headed the installation for more than two years, walked from the lectern to the front of the platform to salute and be saluted by about 250 members of the 87th Air Base Wing.

In a symbolic gesture, she then passed the wing's flag to Brig. Gen. William J. Bender, commander of the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center, who handed it to Wood.

"I'm walking into a great wing," said Wood, a command pilot with more than 4,000 hours of flying time in various aircraft. "Men and women of the 87th, you look great today. You are an outstanding wing."

For Wood, Friday was a kind of homecoming. He once served as commander of the 32d Air Refueling Squadron at McGuire. Looking across the neat formation, he told the airmen they "support the best joint base in the nation. ... I'm ready to go to work."

Though Wood still faces many challenges, much of the work of turning three bases into one has been accomplished.

The Air Force, Army, and Navy have shared land, and services such as grass-cutting, road repairs, and snow removal. McGuire and Dix also have been cooperating on a $500 million housing project providing 2,400 new, renovated, and converted units. And tens of millions of dollars have been spent on new hangars and training facilities. About 2,000 Marines came to the installation in April after the closing of the Willow Grove Naval Air Station.

All this activity has meant jobs for the region and a $7 billion economic impact, the Defense Department said.

Grosso had a "tremendously successful wing command tour," Bender said at the ceremony. "This command, for her, has been a labor of love. Standing up a joint base is no small feat."

Bender praised Grosso for her "service, leadership, compassion, and caring," and told her, "You have poured your heart and soul" into the base.

He said Wood was the "perfect choice to follow" Grosso and knows "for certain he's ready to start now."

In a receiving line later, now-retired U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton (R., N.J.) shook Wood's hand.

"Congressman Saxton, of course!" Wood said.

"Welcome aboard," said Saxton, who helped save the base many times from congressional budget cutters.

Also Friday, Grosso received the Legion of Merit, authorized by President Obama, for her service at the joint base, as well as the Army Commendation Medal from the secretary of the Army.

In farewell comments, she sometimes choked up as she looked back on the last couple of years. She said she met her husband, Air Force Col. Brian O'Conner, while at the joint base. He is now serving in Afghanistan.

"Hey, Brian, just wanted you to know how much I love and miss you," she said. "I look forward to your safe return."