Ballinger assumes command of 621st Contingency Response Wing

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Scott Warner 
  • 621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  

Col. Justin Ballinger assumes command of the 621st Contingency Response Wing, July 24, 2025 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.  

Ballinger began his military career in 2003 after commissioning from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His prior commands, in chronological order, include: 

  • 60th Operations Group commander at Travis Air Force Base, California 

  • 722nd Expeditionary Air Base Squadron, Sidi Ahmed, Tunisia  

  • 9th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Delaware  

Prior to this assignment, he served as a special assistant to the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as a liaison to the National Capitol Region for the United States Air Force Academy. Ballinger is also an accomplished aviator and instructor pilot with more than 800 combat and combat support hours in the C-5 Super Galaxy aircraft. He has previously deployed in support of operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya.  

Change of Command ceremony

U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Herring, top center, former 621st Contingency Response Wing commander, gives his final speech during a Change of Command ceremony to his former unit at the Global Readiness Deployment Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, July 24, 2025. Herring was a former command pilot with more than 3,800 flying hours and has served the U.S. Air Force for more than 26 years. The 621st CRW was established in March 2005, and has a highly specialized team of Airmen that rapidly deploy to open airbases, coordinate air mobility operations, enable joint interoperability and advise partner nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Anastasia Tompkins)

Ballinger replaces Col. Jason Herring, former 621st CRW commander, who is retiring after completing 26 successful years in the U.S. Air Force.  

The 621st CRW is a highly specialized team of approximately 1,500 Airmen who rapidly deploy to open and close airbases, coordinate air mobility operations as well as theater-wide command and control, enable joint interoperability, and advise partner nations. From wartime taskings to disaster relief, the 621st CRW extends Air Mobility Command's reach in deploying people and equipment around the globe. 

Change of Command ceremony

U.S. Air Force Brig. General Stephen Snelson, left, U.S. Expeditionary Center commander, gives the Legion of Merit award to Col. Jason Herring, right, former 621st Contingency Response Wing commander, at the Global Readiness Deployment Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, July 24, 2025. The prestigious military decoration of the United States Armed Forces was awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services during Herring's command. The 621st CRW was established in March 2005, and has a highly specialized team of Airmen that rapidly deploy to open airbases, coordinate air mobility operations, enable joint interoperability and advise partner nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Anastasia Tompkins)

Established in March 2005 and based at both JB McGuire-Dix Lakehurst and Travis AFB, the 621st CRW maintains a ready corps of light, lean and agile mobility support forces able to respond as directed by Air Mobility Command, in order to meet combatant command wartime and humanitarian requirements. 

The ceremony started at 10:00 a.m. at the Global Readiness Deployment Center on base with remarks from Ballinger, Herring and Brig. Gen. Stephen Snelson, U.S. Expeditionary Center commander.