USAF EC introduces new Exped. Ops. school commandant

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Zachary Wilson
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center
JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Col. Patrick Owens assumed command of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's Expeditionary Operations School from Col. Mark Ellis in a ceremony in Grace Peterson Hall at the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Sept. 26.

The Expeditionary Operations School is one of two schools assigned to the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center charged with preparing Airmen to execute expeditionary and mobility missions.

Owens, a KC-135 Stratotanker navigator who previously commanded the 621st Contingency Operations Support Group at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, served as a special assistant over the summer to Maj. Gen. Bill Bender, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander. Ellis, a C-130 Hercules command pilot, will remain at the Expeditionary Center and take on the newly established position of schools director.

"It is an honor for me to join such an important and unique organization," he said. "I am a past student of EOS-administered programs and exercises, and I always came away incredibly impressed with the competence and professionalism of the Airmen and contractors here."

Owens assumes responsibility for an organization recognized as the expeditionary combat support center of excellence, dedicated to sustain and exploit the arsenal of expeditionary combat support tactics, techniques and procedures as well as arming graduates with the skills and confidence to effectively and safely operate in the expeditionary environment, according to EOS officials. The school is responsible for developing and conducting Air Force Chief of Staff-directed Exercise Eagle Flag and Combat Airmen Skills Training course. Additionally, the school has control of the 421st Combat Training Squadron and 422nd Joint Tactics Squadron who together offer 14 unique expeditionary combat support courses, training more than 5,000 Airmen each year.

Ellis maintained that the main success of the school and his former command was a result of the work the Airmen and civilian employees put into developing and executing courses and programs to benefit Airmen serving in harm's way across the globe.

"The dedication of the instructors and support personnel in the 421st CTS and 422nd JTS amazed me on a daily basis the past two years," Ellis said. "Weekends, holidays, anniversaries, you name it; the training doesn't stop for it. The men and women of the Expeditionary Operations School are motivated because they know the skills and knowledge they impart will make the student better at their job be it someone undergoing Combat Airman Skills Training to go down-range or an Airman going through initial mobility intelligence training."

Ellis is proud to continue his association with all of the unique organizations here.

"The cadre knows that in many cases, the training we accomplish here at the Expeditionary Center can save a life," he said. "From standing up the 422nd Joint Tactics Squadron to the graduation of the Air Force's 2000th Raven Sept. 22, the time has flown. It has been an extremely satisfying job knowing the confidence we teach in our courses will pay dividends later."