News

55th Wing Operations Group changes command

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Danielle Grannan
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
Col. Jeffrey A. Herd succeeded Col. Philip A. Smith as the 55th Operations Group Commander in a change of command ceremony at the Bennie Davis maintenance building here Thursday.

Prior to serving as the 55th OG commander, Colonel Herd served as chief, Capabilities and Requirements Integration Division for North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command at Peterson AFB, Co. He led the commands' Integrated Priority List, Chairman's Program Review, Chairman's Program Assessment and Joint Urgent Operational Needs processes supporting the planning, programming, budgeting and execution process and Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System. He is rated as a master navigator with more than 2,800 flying hours and more than 300 combat hours

Colonel Herd received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, with a Bachelor of Science degree in business at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Colonel Herd also earned a Masters in business administration at Campbell University in North Carolina. He's also a graduate of Squadron Officer School and Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama and the Army War College in Pennsylvania.

Colonel Smith is headed to his new position at the Pentagon.