COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 37th Flying Training Squadron, 14th Operations Group, Change of Command ceremony was held on April 25, 2025, on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. Out-going commander Lt. Col. Peter Hince relinquished command to Lt. Col. Elizabeth Jarding.
Jarding is the Director of Operations for the world-famous Bengal Tigers of the 37th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Mississippi. She is responsible for a $34 million flying hour program overseeing day-to-day operations for 99 T-6A Texan II aircraft, instructor pilots, and the annual production of 333 World Class pilots for the U.S. Air Force.
She commissioned into the Air Force in 2007 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 780 at South Dakota State University. She earned her pilot wings at Laughlin AFB, Texas, Class 09-07. Upon graduation she was selected to be a First Assignment Instructor Pilot in the T-1A Jayhawk where she focused on developing pilots for the tanker/airlift track of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training.
Lt. Col. Jarding has served the past 18 years flying and instructing trainer or bomber aircraft in Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Mississippi. Prior to this assignment, she served as the 14th Flying Training Wing Inspector General. She employed the B-1B Lancer in combat and became an Instructor Pilot at the 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D. Her primary duties involved combat readiness and mission qualification instruction.
Lt Col Jarding is a Command Pilot with over 4,000 flight hours including 870 combat hours in the B-1B for Operations INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, and ENDURING FREEDOM.