Col. Nichols takes Command of the 14 FTW

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  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  This morning, Col. John Nichols took command of the 14th Flying Training Wing during the 14 FTW Change of Command Ceremony, July 11 at the Columbus Air Force Base Crash and Fire Department.

Nichols assumed command of the men and women of Team BLAZE from Maj. Gen. Michael Keltz, Air Education and Training Command Director of Intelligence, Operations and Nuclear Integration.

"I am honored to take command of the 14 FTW and to lead the tremendous men and women of Team BLAZE," said Nichols. "Michelle and I are excited to now call Columbus home."

Nichols was Chief of the Combat Plans Division, 609th Air Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. In this capacity, he lead an 85 person Joint and Coalition staff supporting AFCENT and CENTCOM's combat operations and contingency plans and was responsible for planning, allocating, and tasking aerospace forces in accordance with CFACC guidance.

Nichols graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1992 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. Following graduation, he entered intelligence training at Goodfellow AFB, Texas and was assigned to 17th Air Force, Sembach Air Base, Germany, where he supported Operations Deny Flight, Provide Promise and Provide Comfort II.

In June 1996, Nichols was assigned to the 523rd Fighter Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M., as the Chief of Intelligence. During this assignment, he was selected to attend the USAF Weapons School and was subsequently assigned to Ellsworth AFB, S.D. As the 28th Bomb Wing Intelligence Weapons Officer, Nichols supported B-1 combat missions during Operation Allied Force. He was then selected for Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma. Following pilot training, he attended B-1 initial qualification training at the 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas, with a subsequent assignment to the 9th Bomb Squadron.

In June 2005, Nichols attended Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., where he earned a Master of Science Degree in Military Operational Arts and Science. Following graduation, he was selected to return to flying at the 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D. where he served as the squadron's Director of Operations supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. In June 2008, he was selected to command the 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas. Following squadron command, he attended the National War College at Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C. where he earned a Master's degree in Strategic Studies. Nichols was next assigned to Ellsworth AFB as commander of the 28th Operations Group, the largest operational B-1 group in the U.S. Air Force and home to Air Combat Command's first active duty, combat MQ-9 unit not directly assigned to Creech AFB.

Nichols is a senior pilot with more than 2,050 flight hours in the B-1 and MQ-9, including 662 combat hours.