News and information for Bolling Air Force Base personnel | News archives The Beam >> National News | Local News | Commentary | Features | January 23, 2004
Jones becomes new 11th Wing commander
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley (left) presents the 11th Wing guidon to Col. Duane A. Jones (right) moments before Jones verbally accepts command of the wing during a change-of-command ceremony at the Bolling Officers Club Jan. 22. Jones comes to Bolling from the Pentagon, where he served as Moseley's executive officer. Chief Master Sgt. Jonathan E. Hake, the 11th Wing command chief master sergeant, served as guidon bearer for the ceremony.
Col. Duane A. Jones assumed command of the 11th Wing Jan. 22 at the Bolling Officers Club, a day after the wing bid farewell to outgoing commander Col. William A. Chambers in the same venue.
Jones comes to Bolling from the Pentagon, where he served as executive officer to Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley, who presided over the morning change-of-command ceremony.
Chambers, who has been selected for promotion to brigadier general, heads to the Pentagon as the deputy director of learning and force development for the deputy chief of staff for personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He commanded the 11th Wing since November 2001.
In a room filled to overflowing with senior leaders, family members and members of "The Chief's Own," Moseley accepted the wing's guidon from Chambers and presented it to Jones.
"There's no better couple to follow in the command footsteps than Duane [Col. Jones] and Jan," said Moseley. The couple have three children.
A war-tested leader, Jones is "singularly responsible," Moseley said, for setting up 38 main operating bases in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom across the area of responsibility -- from former Soviet republics commonly known as the "Stans" to countries throughout the Persian Gulf region, including Iraq.
He is also the winner of Air Force Association 2002 and 2003 logistics awards.
Upon assuming command of the wing, Jones, who said his father came through Bolling as a B-17 pilot many decades ago, recalled the base's rich and proud heritage.
"We have a tremendous debt to the airmen who came before us, a responsibility to maintain their heritage," the new commander said. "The very best way we can do that is simply by doing our duty."
As the new commander of "The Chief's Own," Jones is excited to do his duty -- to serve side by side with the men and women in the 11th Wing.
"I'm ready to get to work, to get on with the 11th Wing's business."
A last piece of business for the outgoing commander was to receive his end-of-tour award. The vice chief of staff awarded Chambers with the Legion of Merit for his "exemplary insight, diligence and visionary leadership."
In his remarks, Moseley credited Chambers with bringing the 11th Wing on line to fight the Global War on Terrorism and threats in the National Capital Region.
"Throughout Bolling's history, I'm not sure there was a finer moment than that," the general said.
When Chambers took command, the wing was in the throes of reacting to the terrorist attack on the Pentagon. His charter from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper was to "focus the wing on readiness and support Headquarters Air Force with wartime customer support," said the outgoing commander during the ceremony, which was attended by his wife, two of their four children, and his parents.
"The men and women of the 11th Wing grabbed the throttle and pushed hard," Chambers said. "We're on the map. We're a tool the secretary [of the Air Force] and the chief [of staff of the Air Force] can count on."