VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Col. Darrell Judy assumed command of the 71st Flying Training Wing from Col. Clark Quinn during a change-of-command ceremony June 28 in Hangar 199.
Maj. Gen. James Hecker, the 19th Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony.
Judy joins Team Vance after a tour at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, where he was the 47th Flying Training Wing vice commander.
“It’s not often you get lucky in the military, and today I’m lucky twice,” said Judy in his address to the men and women of the 71st FTW. “On the first account, I’m lucky that I didn’t actually change the license plate on my pickup to Texas. I left it in Oklahoma and it is due in August. I’ll be able to renew them in person.
“Really, what I’m lucky to be, is back at the 71st Flying Training Wing with my family,” he said. “It’s an honor to stand in front of you today and address the men and women of this fine wing.”
Judy is on his fourth assignment at Vance. He graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training here in 1994 and returned in 2007 as the chief of safety and a T-6 instructor pilot.
After his tour in the Safety Office, Judy became the 32nd Flying Training Squadron commander in 2009.
“The key element to Airpower is not airplanes, it is Airmen,” said Judy at the conclusion of his speech. “The job of Team Vance is to provide that professional Airmen trained to deliver that Airpower to fly, fight and win, and I know you will continue to do just that.
“It’s a privilege to be standing here in front of you today as your commander, and I look forward to working with Team Vance and the (Enid) community to continue to produce those Airmen,” he said.
Quinn leaves Vance to become the executive officer for the deputy commander, U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
“Today, I stand in front of you again, and I remain humbled and honored, but unfortunately today, it’s for the last time,” said Quinn in his final address to the wing. “This year, I leave with two years of fantastic memories.
“Memories of accomplishing the mission, graduating pilots, awarding CCAF degrees, graduating (Airmen Leadership School) students, and countless awards that weren’t just given, they were earned by the Airmen of this wing,” he said.
“I have memories of friends made in the community, and ultimately I leave today with a much larger Air Force family than when I arrived here,” said Quinn.
Judy holds three master’s degrees and one bachelor’s.
He graduated Colorado State University, Colorado, in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication.
He holds a Master of Human Resource Management from Webster University; a Master of Military Art and Science from the Air Command & Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; and a Master National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport Naval Station, New Jersey.
Judy’s decorations include a Defense Meritorious Service Medal and a Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters.
Judy is a command pilot with more than 3,100 hours in the C-5 Galaxy, C-26A Metroliner, T-1A Jayhawk, T-38A Talon and T-37 Tweet.