Operations Group introduces new commander

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danielle Hill
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Colonel Eric Theisen relinquished command of the 14th Operations Group to Col. David Reth Wednesday in a ceremony in Hangar 6, the Louis C. Malloy Hangar.

Colonel Reth joins the BLAZE Team from Ramstein AB, Germany, where he served as deputy commander of USAFE Detachment 5 Operating Location - Alpha.

The colonel entered the active duty Air Force in 1985 after graduating from the Air Force Academy as a distinguished graduate. He earned his pilot wings at Reese AFB, Texas, and stayed as a T-38 First Assignment Instructor Pilot.

Following his FAIP assignment, he transitioned to the F-15 where he flew at various operational assignments in Germany and had an instructor pilot tour at Tyndall AFB, Fla.

Colonel Reth has served as a NATO staff officer, flying squadron director of operations and flying wing Chief of Safety. He has commanded an operations support squadron and served as a deputy operations group commander.

He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, including 137 combat hours during Operations PROVIDE COMFORT, NORTHERN WATCH and DENY FLIGHT. He has flown four models of the F-15 and three models of the T-38. He has served assignments in Texas, New Mexico and Florida. He has also served in Italy and Germany.

As OG commander, he will oversee pilot training for U.S. Air Force and international officers, using a fleet of over 200 T-6, T-38 and T-1 aircraft and 24 flight simulators. His command includes six squadrons and more than 1,000 officers, civilians, enlisted and contractors.

Colonel Theisen will go on to be the ACC Chief of Advanced Programs Division, Headquarters, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.