Team BLAZE welcomes new Vice Commander

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephanie Englar
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  As most Team BLAZE members were preparing for a long Independence Day weekend, our new vice commander quietly reported into Columbus Air Force Base.

Col. Howard McArthur, the new Vice Commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing arrived here from Scott AFB, Ill.

"I'm excited about joining Team BLAZE, the premier pilot training wing and community developing the world's best Airmen," said McArthur. "I've spent a large portion of my career in education and training, to be back in this environment is exciting. The mission here is critically important, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it."

"I've been humbled and overwhelmed by my welcome here, not just by the Airmen on the base, but also members of the local community," said McArthur.

McArthur said that as the Vice Commander he is here to step in whenever he is needed, and will strive to guide the wing with seamless leadership.

When it comes to Advancing Airmen, McArthur said he stands behind Comprehensive Airmen Fitness, which is focused on improving Airmen readiness by solidifying the four CAF pillars: mental, physical, social and spiritual.

McArthur started his Air Force career in 1990 when he commissioned from Officer Training School and attended pilot training at Reese AFB, Texas. Following his initial assignment to Minot AFB, N.D. flying the KC-135 Stratotanker, McArthur went to Laughlin AFB, Texas for instructor pilot duties in the T-37B Tweet and then the T-1A Jayhawk.

His flying assignments include the AETC instructor pilot tours in the T-37B and T-1A, as well as instructor pilot, flight examiner, weapons school instructor, and operations officer in KC-135. He commanded the 509th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and has served on the staff of Headquarters, U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon, Va. He came to Columbus Air Force Base from Scott AFB, Ill., where he served on the United States Transportation Command J3 staff as the Chief of the West Division, Operations and Plans Directorate.

One of the highlights of his U.S. TRANSCOM assignment was planning the delivery of critical supplies to people affected in the 2011 earthquake in Japan. Along with supplies, he helped arrange evacuation of 5000 Department of Defense dependents. "It was gratifying to help our Pacific ally Japan in the wake of that devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami, said McArthur. "Our evacuation plan also helped U.S. service members maintain confidence that their families were alright."
McArthur is joined here by his wife, Melissa, and two of his three sons. Melissa just recently arrived, but McArthur said she is delighted to be here and is anticipating becoming involved with the base and local community.

Now that he has arrived at Columbus AFB, he will once again be an instructor pilot, this time in the T-6 Texan II flying student sorties with the 41st Flying Training Squadron.

As Vice Commander, McArthur is responsible for the day-to-day operations of base support functions and mission activities of more than 3,600 people, an operations and maintenance budget of $147 million and capital assets and equipment exceeding $2.3 billion. "To say that I am excited about being back in the pilot training environment is an understatement. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be here to help produce pilots, advance Airmen and feed the fight.