BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California -- Colonel Jeffrey J. Downs was given command of the 940th Air Refueling Wing at Beale Air Force Base during an Assumption of Command ceremony. Major General Randall A. Ogden, Commander, 4th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, March Air Reserve Base, California, presided over the ceremony. This will be the Ogden's last official visit to the 940th Air Fueling Wing as he is retiring after 35 years of dedicated service to the AFRC.
Col. Downs was previously the commander of the 940th Air Refueling Wing Operations Group. The 940th Operation Group is home to eight Stratotankers and 350 reserve, active duty and civilian personnel. Downs has been in command of the group over the last year and a half. He has a senior pilot with over 3,000 flying hours in the C-130 and KC-135 aircraft.
But what makes this commander different and unique to the wing is that Downs is an active duty officer and not a reservist himself. He is taking on a new adventure and definitely approaching his new route with direct priority and high expectations.
Col. Downs addressed his airmen front and center, "My message is simple and my message is clear. We’re here for one purpose and one purpose only that is to defend the freedoms of our nation. That’s why we come. That’s why we put the uniform on and that’s why we serve."
He continued to speak to an attentive audience, "If our adversaries feel we don’t have the capability to do this mission, our freedoms will be lost around the world.
We cannot fail at that mission."
Maj Gen Ogden, Commander 4th AF, Air Force Reserve Command, March Air Reserve Base, presides at the Assumption of Command for the 940th Air Refueling Wing, Beale Air Force. Col. Jeffrey J. Downs is taking command of the 940th ARW.