Kidd takes command of 14th MDG

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephanie Englar
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Col. Allen Kidd took over command of the 14th Medical Group at an assumption of command ceremony Nov. 22 at the Columbus Club.

"I'm very excited about being a group Commander here," said Kidd. "It's very gratifying to be able to lead a group of highly trained professionals who are doing what they do best."

As the Commander of the 14th Medical Group, Kidd says his leadership philosophies are that core values come first and to make sure that Airmen and people are well taken care of.

Kidd said that he hopes to maintain the high standards of the Medical Group and plans on building on the high level of performance set in the past.

"I believe people come here wanting to excel and do well," said Kidd. "I believe that if you treat people like adults, they will act like adults. The Air Force trains its people very well- we want to let people do their jobs."

Kidd graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1983 and came in to the Air Force as an aircraft maintenance officer, Kidd said he went back to college and earned his degree in Nursing after making friends in the career field and learning about it from them.

"I was originally going to become a reserve officer, but after college I missed the camaraderie that the military provided, and went straight back in to active duty," said Kidd.

Kidd previously came from the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Pope Army Airfield in North Carolina where he was the Commander of a unit that mobilizes and deploys specially trained, fully equipped, medical and communications forces, capable of establishing and operating critical components of the Department of Defense's Theater Aeromedical Evacuation System in response to and support of any homeland or overseas contingency or steady state operation.

"It's very nice coming back to an Air Force Base" said Kidd. "It's been a great welcoming. The people are phenomenal and have been very helpful."