CAFB welcomes new wing commander Published June 18, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Danielle Hill 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Colonel Roger Watkins will assume command of the 14th Flying Training Wing Wednesday at 9 a.m. in a ceremony at Smith Plaza with a reception following at the Columbus Club. All members of the BLAZE team are invited to both events. Colonel Watkins is coming from Fairchild AFB, Wash., where he was the vice commander of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing. In this position, his primary responsibility was wing exercise evaluation, self assessment and environmental protection programs. A University of Texas at Austin graduate, the colonel commissioned through Officer Training School after receiving his degree in mathematics. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Okla. Since then he has served as a flight commander, assistant operations officer, wing Chief of Safety, an Air Refueling Squadron commander and an Operations Group deputy commander. Colonel Watkins is a command pilot with more than 3,200 flying hours in the T-1, T-37, T-38 and two models of the KC-135. He has also been an instructor pilot in the T-37, T-1 and KC-135. The colonel has been stationed in Washington, Texas, Florida, California and North Dakota. Colonel Watkins and his wife, Leslie, will arrive at Columbus AFB Tuesday evening.