Expeditionary Operations School welcomes new commander

Col. Jay Junkins receives the Expeditionary Operations School guidon from Maj. Gen. Frederick H. Martin, commander of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center during the change of command ceremony at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., July 25, 2014. The EOS is responsible for developing and conducting Combat Airman Skills Training, mobility intelligence education, and facilitating the Air Force exercise Eagle Flag which focuses on the integration of all Expeditionary Combat Support skills. (U.S. Air Force photo by Russell Meseroll)

Expeditionary Operations School welcomes new commander

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Honor Guard Airmen wait to present the colors during the Expeditionary Operations School change of command ceremony July 25, 2014. The EOS is responsible for developing and conducting Combat Airman Skills Training, mobility intelligence education, and facilitating the Air Force exercise Eagle Flag which focuses on the integration of all Expeditionary Combat Support skills. (U.S. Air Force photo by Brad Camara)

Expeditionary Operations School welcomes new commander

Published July 24, 2014
By Lemitchel King
U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst -- Members of the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst community joined students, faculty, staff and special guests as the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's Expeditionary Operations School welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony July 25, 2014.

Col. Jay Junkins officially took command of the EOS from Col. Patrick Owens and will lead the school in its mission to train Airmen in combat support roles and prepare them for various missions throughout the world.

"It will be a challenge to exceed the great accomplishments and expectations the EOS has demonstrated over the last decade, but I will challenge the team to build upon these successes by cultivating an environment of innovation and collaboration to deliver focused and effective training to our Airmen, joint, and coalition forces," Junkins said.

Junkins is a graduate of the Citadel, a C-130 Hercules evaluator navigator and weapons officer, graduate of the EC's Advanced Study of Air Mobility program, and a former Air Mobility Operations Squadron commander.

"I had the honor to be a member of the EOS Team in 2006 and a direct customer managing USTRANSCOM's Joint Task Force-Port Opening Verification Exercise Program in 2012," he said. "The support, dedication, and expertise of the EOS team was nothing less than phenomenal."

Owens, who is transitioning to a position with the Defense Logistics Agency said, "the greatest accomplishment of the EOS over the past three years has been the safe and effective training of over 9000 Airmen, sister service personnel, and coalition forces. The EOS's strength is our competent Airmen who are fully committed to our training mission, the Airmen who they train, and each other. What I will miss most about commanding the EOS is the inspiration I have received daily from the incredible dedication of our Airmen, to include our civilian airmen and our contract partners."

The EOS is responsible for developing and conducting Combat Airman Skills Training, mobility intelligence education, and facilitating the Air Force exercise Eagle Flag which focuses on the integration of all Expeditionary Combat Support skills.