Growing up on a farm in Kansas, Col. David Wyrick’s grandfather taught him about hard work and character.

His grandfather had served in World War II under Gen. Patton.

Wyrick said he said a lot of that in the military and wanted to be a part of it.

He enlisted out of high school to see the world and lean into those values his grandfather instilled in him.

Sentinel work continuing; officials considering local impact

Initially, he planned to serve for just four years, but the “military changed me in a way that’s hard to describe.”

He identified with the members of his unit and leaned on them in tough times.

“I realized I had joined a family,” he said in an interview with The Electric, “and here I am.”

Wyrick had assumed command of the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base about an hour earlier.

He’s been in the Air Force for 32 years, spending the first seven as an enlisted member, then commissioning as an officer.

AFGSC completes test launch, using unarmed Malmstrom missile

“I think it was beyond my wildest dreams early on to take this post,” he said of becoming wing commander, but had leaders like Maj. Gen. Stacy Jo Huser, 20th Air Force commander, to mentor him. He now wants to continue that mentorship in growing the next generation of leaders.

Wyrick was assigned to Malmstrom from 2009 to 2011 as the chief of training for the 341st Operations Support Squadron.

He said since then, the faces at Malmstrom may have changed, but the dedication and professionalism haven’t.

“People may come and go, the mission of nuclear deterrence will continue well into the future,” Wyrick said.

Malmstrom paired with Westinghouse for potential nuclear microreactor

He was most recently the deputy wing commander of the 377th Air Base Wing at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico.

On July 2, Wyrick assumed command of the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom from Col. Daniel Voorhies, who is retiring after 25 years of service. He’s staying in the Great Falls area.

During the ceremony, Huser, the 20th AF commander, said “it’s not easy to do this mission. You’ve benefited from an ICBM expert.”

The airmen benefited from what Huser said is the “Voorhies effect”: when he’s around, “life gets more fun, the job gets more fun.”

Omaha Trophy returns to Malmstrom Air Force Base

To Wyrick, she said it, “fills my heart with joy to see this family take on this new challenge.”

She thanks his wife for her support since “no one does this alone.”

To the Malmstrom’s airmen, Huser said, “thank you for protecting our nation and her allies.”

Voorhies assumed command two years ago and said it “feels like it was just the other day that I took the flag.”

He said he’s heard it said that to see the nuclear mission, a person needs to see a test launch at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

First on-base Sentinel construction to start this summer at Malmstrom

“If you want to see the true ICBM mission, you show up at Malmstrom,” he said.

He said that at that moment, while they were at the ceremony, more than 10 maintenance teams were in the field supporting ICBM crews on alert, as they had done since the 1960s.

Malmstrom was President John F. Kennedy’s “ace in the hole” with the first Minuteman ICBM on alert.

“We’re the first, we’re the biggest, and I say we are the best. This is because of you. You truly are the best, thank you very much,” Voorhies said to the airmen.

Malmstrom airmen honored [2025]

After the formal change of command, which includes passing the guidon, or unit flag, Wyrick told the airmen, “I’m here and I’m ready. I’m ready to listen to you. I’m ready to learn from you. I’m ready to support you and I’m ready to fight for you.”

In the interview with The Electric after the ceremony, he thanked the Great Falls community for their support of the base and the airmen.

This weekend, Wyrick said, “we should all celebrate America’s 250th and while we do so, we should remember that it’s men and women just like those here at Malmstrom who make that possible. We do spend time thinking about the community and why we serve, so it’s always wonderful when that comes back to us.”

He encouraged the community to thank servicemembers for their service if they see them this weekend.

“We continue to stand the watch for them.”

*Malmstrom Public Affairs photo