71st MSG under new leadership

  • Published
  • By Frank McIntyre
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Col. Jennifer Graham took command of the 71st Mission Support Group during a ceremony at 10 a.m. today in Hangar 199.

Colonel Graham comes to Vance from the Pentagon where she was military assistant to the principal deputy under secretary of defense for policy where she provided operational and administrative support and advice to the Honorable Ryan Henry.

"I'm excited about assuming command and want to thank Col. Klumpp for his confidence in selecting me for this duty. It is an exciting mission to build a foundation to prepare young men and women for our Air Force while at Vance. I am energized over the challenge." Colonel Graham said

"I've heard great things about the Enid community and have similarly heard great things about the men and women of the mission support group. Every base has its unique qualities, but I'm very comfortable with the flying training mission because of my time at Laughlin. I'm excited to meet and work with the men and women of the 71st Mission Support Group. We are going to grow together and push the mission forward and do everything we can to maintain the top quality support that the MSG has provided to the wing."

Colonel Graham is a 1986 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. She earned a Masters in English Literature from San Jose State University in 1992. She is also a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. in 1988, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell in 1998, Harvard Business School's General Managers Program in 2002 and the National War College in 2005.

She has served in a variety of assignments starting as personnel section leader at Peterson AFB, Colo. then as director of personnel at Onizuka AFB, Calif. In February 1992, she was assigned as an assignment officer to work the merger of Tactical Air Command and Strategic Air Command at Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va., and later became the deputy for senior officer matters for the ACC commander. In April 1994, she was assigned to be the chief of military personnel for the National Reconnaissance Office at the Pentagon. In June 1996, she was assigned as chief, senior officer matters, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

Colonel Graham returned to Washington, D.C. as commander, Pentagon military personnel flight and later was chief, studies and analysis, general officer matters office, Headquarters USAF directorate of personnel. She then commanded the 47th Mission Support Squadron at Laughlin AFB, Texas. She once again returned to the Pentagon and USAF Headquarters directorate of personnel as the director of staff, chief of staff of the developing aerospace leaders support office where she spent three years leading a team charged to examine and recommend actions necessary to prepare the United States Air Force' Total Force for leadership into the 21st century.

Her awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.