Weeks takes command of 14th FTW

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Col. Samantha Weeks took command of the 14th Flying Training Wing during a ceremony, Aug. 6., here.

Maj. Gen. Patrick Doherty, 19th Air Force commander from Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, presided over the ceremony, in which Col. Douglas Gosney relinquished his command. Doherty then passed the wing’s guidon to Weeks to signify her taking command.

“I am humbled beyond words and measure at the opportunity granted to me today, to take command of the 14th FTW and having the responsibility and privilege to lead the 2,700 Airmen that make up team BLAZE,” Weeks said right after taking command.

As commander, Weeks manages Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training for U.S. Air Force and allied officers, as well as tactical training for Afghan and Lebanese pilots and aircraft maintainers in the A-29 Super Tucano at Moody AFB, Georgia.

“Columbus AFB has been the premiere pilot training wing with a strong community devoted to developing the world’s best Airmen and it will continue to be,” Weeks said.

Before Weeks took command, Doherty thanked Gosney and his family for their time and sacrifices, he talked about how important the 14th FTW mission is to the nation and told those in attendance about the type of leader Weeks is.

Talking about the importance of staying ready and not being complacent, Doherty said Columbus AFB is at the forefront of the readiness conversation.

“What you do matters. It matters how effective you are and it matters what type of innovation you’re bringing to this production engine and that you envision what the future can be,” Doherty said.

He said he feels confident in Weeks’ ability to lead the wing into the future as it is expected to continuously grow in mission and volume.

“She knows how to lead Airmen, everything about the flying business, and everything about the threat we’re up against for the future,” Doherty said. “Not only in the flying domain but the cyber and space domains as well.”

Weeks’ is an F-15C Eagle pilot with more than 2,200 hours to include 105 combat hours. Weeks also flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon as a member of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. During her previous assignment, Weeks was the 57th Adversary Tactics Group commander at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

Following the change of command ceremony, Gosney went on to retire after 23 years of faithful service to the Air Force.