Columbus Air Force Base will welcome a new commander Monday for the 14th Flying Training Wing.
Col. James Blech will assume command during a ceremony at 9 a.m. on the base. He will replace Col. Justin T. Grieve, who has led the training wing since July 2022. CAFB changes commanders every two years.
Blech comes to Columbus from Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, where he served two years as commander for the 47th Operations Group. He joined the Air Force through the United States Air Force Academy in 2003 and earned his pilot wings by 2005. He’s been deployed to the Middle East and Europe to support operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya, according to his online biography.
Blech has logged more than 3,000 flying hours, with more than 1,400 in combat. He has piloted T-6A, T-1A and KC-135R/T planes.
According to his biography, his wife, Lt. Col. Stephanie Blech, is also a KC-135 pilot.
Prior to serving at CAFB, Grieve served as both pilot and instructor at numerous bases including Vance AFB in Oklahoma, Whiteman AFB in Missouri and Offutt AFB in Nebraska. He also held a position in the Pentagon as chief bomber aircraft and nuclear programs directorate of legislative liaison for the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2000 and earned his pilot wings by 2001. Grieve has spent more than 4,000 hours in the air, flying T-37, B-2 and T-38 planes.
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