NEW COMMANDER AT PLANT 42 LT. COL. RONALD HIRTLE SUCCEEDS LT. COL. RONALD ORTIZ IN TOP POSITION.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- In what one official called a changing of the Rons, Lt. Col. Ronald Hirtle took command Wednesday of Air Force Plant 42, succeeding Lt. Col. Ronald Ortiz.

With some of the nation's most sophisticated aircraft serving as a backdrop, Hirtle took command of the installation in a brief ceremony in front of civic leaders and defense contractors. Hirtle now commands an installation that produces and modifies cutting-edge aircraft and serves as the Antelope Valley's second-largest center of employment.

``When I was 15 years old, I knew I wanted to be an Air Force officer,'' Hirtle said. ``Now, to be commander of Plant 42 is a honor for me.''

The commander of Plant 42 is responsible for providing security and fire protection for eight separate production sites. The commander is also responsible for the operations and maintenance of two 12,000-foot runways used by the military, contractors and commercial aircraft.

Plant 42, along with the neighboring Lockheed Martin plant, employs more than 6,500 people. Work at Plant 42 includes the production of the unmanned Global Hawk and modification operations for the B-2 bomber fleet, the F-117 stealth fighter and the U-2.

The ceremony was presided over by Col. James Godsey, deputy director of the engineering directorate of Aeronautical Systems Center, Plant 42's parent unit. A B-2, a F-117 and a U-2 were among the aircraft arranged as a backdrop for the ceremony.

In addition to keeping the airfield accessible to defense contractors, Hirtle will also have to work on a number of community issues, including plans by the city of Palmdale to build a power plant on the northern boundary of the installation and efforts to establish airline service out of the Palmdale Regional Airport.

``The main thing is to get settled in, get my family settled in, and take the issues as they come,'' Hirtle said.

Hirtle is coming to Plant 42 from Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts, where he was chief of contracts for the Mission Planning Systems Group, Battle Management Wing.

Commissioned through the ROTC program in 1988, Hirtle's early career was spent in missile combat roles. He later switched over to the contracting field.

Hirtle's career includes serving as one of two acquisition staff officers in the Joint Logistics Directorate, United States Central Command for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In that capacity, Hirtle deployed to the Middle East as the lead contracting officer for the Security and Justice Sector for the Iraq Ministry of Interior.

Hirtle said his experience in Iraq will be helpful in his new post. In the Iraq deployment, Hirtle said he had to work hand in hand with defense contractors much in the same way a Plant 42 commander must work with contractors.

Hirtle said he was very impressed with the Antelope Valley's high degree of support for the military.

``I've seen yellow ribbons all over the community,'' Hirtle said. ``When the community backs the military -- that's what you love to see.''

Hirtle came to Palmdale with his fiance, Laura Snow, and his son, Alex.

Hirtle earned bachelor's degrees in psychology and political science from the University of New Hampshire, a master's in health care administration from Central Michigan University and a master's of business administration in contracts and acquisition from Western New England College.

Ortiz is leaving after a three-year stint as Plant 42's commander. During Ortiz's tenure, the installation saw the first flight of the first production Global Hawk reconnaissance aircraft, the start-up of the midfuselage production for the F-35 joint strike fighter, the installation of a new weapons delivery system on the F-117 stealth fighter, and ongoing support of the upgrade program of the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft.

Ortiz oversaw the start-up of two major improvement projects for Plant 42 -- the installation of new taxiway lights that will reduce energy consumption by 60 percent and the start of a four-phase program to update aging fire protection facilities.

Ortiz also lists among his highlights the installations work with Lancaster High School students in hosting an annual Armed Forces appreciation event.

``It allows the kids to plan out the event and hopefully learn some skills. And it instills some civic pride and patriotism,'' Ortiz said.

Ortiz is going to Los Angeles Air Force Base to serve as director of contracts for special acquisition programs. In that role, he will work on systems engineering and federal research contracts supporting Air Force space systems.

james.skeen(at)dailynews

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) HIRTLE

(2 -- color) Master Sgt. Rob Haslacker watches Col. James Godsey gives the change-of-command flag to incoming Plant 42 commander Lt. Col. Ronald Hirtle as outgoing commander Lt. Col. Ronald Ortiz observes during a ceremony at the plant Wednesday.

(3 -- color) Outgoing Plant 42 commander Lt. Col. Ronald Ortiz gives his wife, Carmen, a kiss and flowers.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer