The 307th Bomb Wing, the Air Force reserve's striking unit at Barksdale Air Force Base, will welcome a new commander and bid farewell to his predecessor in a ceremony on the base Sunday.
Col. Bruce R. Cox, currently director of 10th Air Force Operations and Plans Directorate, will replace Col. Jonathan M. Ellis as wing commander during a change-of-command ceremony at 10 a.m. in Hoban Hall.
From Fort Worth, Texas, Cox was commissioned in 1986 and was a distinguished graduate at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, where he learned to fly. He completed F-16 Viper training at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Col. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University, the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College and the U.S. Air Force Air War College.
A Reservist since 1991, Cox has deployed 11 times, flown 158 missions and logged 565 combat hours. He is a command pilot with more than 4,400 total flight hours. He has served in numerous leadership positions within the 10th Air Force, including serving as the 301st Operations Group commander prior to his present posting.
After 28 years as a fighter pilot, Cox looks forward to transitioning to bombers.
"The excitement of learning new missions with the great airmen of the 307th Bomb Wing, along with learning the B-52 and B-1 aircraft, is an honor and a privilege to be cherished," he said in a release. "I hope to gain familiarity with every seat on the airplanes operated by the wing. In the end, I'll sit wherever I'm told and execute the mission to the high standards taught by the 93rd Bomb Squadron instructors."
Cox said his priority as the new wing commander is to take care of the airmen of the 307th Bomb Wing so they can execute the mission.
"It is the responsibility of leadership to provide our Airmen the tools and opportunities to balance civilian pursuits and military operational and strategic demands all while caring for each other and our families," he said.
Col. Ellis will move to Air Force Global Strike Command and serve as the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations.
