944th FW changes command

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Susan Stout
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Col. Richard Scobee took command of the 944th Fighter Wing Saturday during a ceremony in Hangar 999. 

Colonel Scobee recently expressed his thoughts of taking command of the wing, his vision for the future and the partnership with the 56th Fighter Wing. 

"I am excited about the opportunity to take command of the 944th Fighter Wing," Colonel Scobee said. "We've recently undergone significant changes because of base realignment and closure. Our focus now is where we go with the future of this wing. We have incredibly talented people that will make us successful in supporting every group and squadron at Luke -- whether it's training F-16 pilots, supporting the war or our extensive humanitarian projects." 

In his previous assignment as 944th Operations Group commander, Colonel Scobee oversaw the 301st and 302nd Fighter Squadrons which, at that time, contained more than half of the F-16 pilots in all of the Air Force Reserve Command. 

Among Colonel Scobee's top goals are ensuring a strong integrated relationship with the 56th Fighter Wing, enhancing reserve awareness, and providing a positive public image for the reserve through humanitarian missions. 

"In our vision of Total Force Integration, it is our responsibility to look for new and better ways to adapt the changing requirements," said the Air Force Academy graduate. "We have had 20 great years of success and we will continue to provide quality support to the total force team in the future." 

The 56th Fighter Wing and 944th FW have an enduring and unique partnership at Luke, according to Brig. Gen. Tom Jones, 56th FW commander. 

"The pilots who are immersed in our operations provide a stable and critical continuity for Luke's mission of training the world's greatest fighter pilots," he said. "The leadership, experience and mentorship that all reservists in the 944th FW bring to the total force are extremely valuable to accomplishing our mission. It's a pleasure to work side by side with the 944th FW in the world's greatest Air Force." 

The 944th FW will also strive to improve Reserve awareness with civilian employers, community leaders and our military counterparts, he said. 

"Whether to the AOR, Africa, El Salvador or Germany, our support personnel did great things to assist others," Colonel Scobee said. "We will continue supporting humanitarian missions and train and deploy assigned reservists providing combat ready warriors in support of any DOD mission requirement." 

A command pilot with more than 3,800 flying hours, including 248 combat hours, Colonel Scobee has flown combat missions in Iraq supporting Operations Desert Storm, Northern Watch and Southern Watch. 

Relinquishing command was Col. Derek Rydholm, who will become the Western Hemisphere (Homeland Defense) Joint Staff assistant deputy director at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.