If there’s anything the new commander of the Columbus Air Force Base can take from his predecessor, it’s to leave Columbus better than he found it.
Col. James “Flash” Blech officially took the reins of the 14th Flying Training Wing from Col. Justin “Vapor” Grieve at the base Monday morning during a change of command ceremony. CAFB changes commanders every two years.
Blech said he is looking forward to the challenge of running the base, especially since the wing has helped the entire Air Force evolve.
“The world is changing rapidly, and as we all know, if you watch the news, the character of war is evolving with it,” Blech said. “And as you know … the 14th Flying Training Wing is critical in assuring the Air Force can fly … against any adversary at any time and place of our choosing.”
Blech comes to Columbus from Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, where he served two years as commander for the 47th Operations Group.
The Laughlin base and Columbus base are both Air Education and Training Command locations, giving Blech prior experience with pilot training which may help with the transition.
Major General Clark Quinn, 19th Air Force Commander, presided over the change of command ceremony. He said Grieve — who led the training wing from July 2022 until Monday — hit record setting numbers for the base.
“You were able to substantially increase pilot production, setting records of what Columbus can produce,” Quinn said, addressing Grieve directly. “You led your organization through 40,000 sorties (missions flown by a single plane), 60,000 flying hours each year. 241 aircraft. You’ve created 740 new pilots that have joined the ranks of military aviation both within our air force and several partner nations.”
Grieve increased the number of pilots graduating in the wing by 11% from the wing’s 20-year average, the highest number of pilots in 36 years.
Quinn said the wing flies an average of 260 sorties every day and maintains a combat-ready force of almost 1,000 airmen.
Quinn called the 14th Flying Training Wing a “cornerstone” in the AETC pilot training mission.
Grieve also grew the Columbus Air Force Base in other ways, including managing $2.3 billion in base infrastructure and assets during his command. This included adding a combat arms training range to the base, a comprehensive readiness aircrew training facility, and other changes.
Quinn said Grieve also enhanced training procedures and reformed graduate flying training, mostly through air ability fundamentals and fighter bomber fundamentals, which has resulted in CAFB “producing some of the most inspired, efficient and adaptive warriors in our Air Force.”
“You’re leaving Columbus a better place than you found it,” Quinn said to Grieve.
Grieve received the Legion of Merit award during the ceremony, a military decoration awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces to recognize outstanding service, loyalty and fidelity in both combat and non-combat services.
Grieve said he is retiring, as he is ready for his “next adventure.” He thanked all those who helped him during his time in Columbus, along with the men and women of the 14th Flying Training Wing.
“Thank you for this opportunity, and thank you for actually allowing me to lead this wing,” Grieve said. “It’s been the dream of a lifetime.”
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