Heaps assumes command of 14th CPTS-CONS (P)

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Josh Harbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- --  Major Paul Porter relinquished command of the 14th Comptroller-Contracting Squadron (Provisional) to Maj. Brian Heaps in a ceremony at the Columbus Club Dec. 18, 2008.

Major Heaps comes to Columbus AFB from Misawa AB, Japan, where he was the 35th Contracting Squadron commander. He recently graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., where he graduated in early December.

In 1992, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, from Western New England College, Mass. He later obtained a master's degree in Acquisition Management in 2001 from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

The new 14th CPTS-CONS (P) commander has received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

He has been stationed in locations such as Alabama, Utah, Ohio, Massachusetts, Germany and Japan.

The 14th Comptroller-Contracting squadron, Provisional stood up June 24, 2008 as a combined squadron. Columbus AFB volunteered to be one of the five test bases for the two-year test to combine base-level comptroller and contracting functions. The intent of merging the squadrons is to provide better customer service to support the wing and Air Force missions while being conscientious of the personnel reductions and increasing operations tempo. The comptroller and contracting career fields both fall under the Air Force Acquisitions career field.

The mission of the 14th CPTS-CONS (P) is to provide timely financial and contracting support for the acquisition of supply, equipment, construction and base maintenance services in support of the wing's flying training mission in addition to meeting the individual financial needs of the base populace.

"I am truly honored with the great opportunity to come to Columbus AFB and command this merged provisional squadron," stated Maj Heaps. "This will be a great opportunity to prove that the merged concept is a better way to do business for the Air Force. While we had a great year with the U.S. Army," Heaps continued, "my wife and children are excited to be back with our Air Force family."