Woods takes reins of 8th Flying Training Squadron

  • Published
  • By Frank McIntyre
  • 71st Flying Training Wing public affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Lt. Col. Neil Woods took command of the 8th Flying Training Squadron from Navy CDR Todd Rader in a change of command ceremony today in Hangar 199.
Colonel Woods was formerly the 8th FTS director of operations.

"I am very blessed to have this opportunity, and I thank the Vance leadership team for their trust and confidence," Colonel Woods said. "The American Soldiers and Airmen putting their lives on the line every day in this war on terror are depending on us to do this job right so those skies above and the ground below Iraq and Afghanistan and wherever this war on terror takes us remain brutally hostile to anyone who has sights set on shedding American blood.

"Those who aspire to be great leaders must first learn to be great servants, and I look forward to serving the members of the 8th and with them as we prepare the world's greatest joint air warriors to fly, fight and win."

Colonel Woods was commissioned in 1988 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at University of Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics. He completed undergraduate pilot training at Vance in 1989 and remained here as a T-38 first assignment instructor pilot for four years.
Colonel Woods attended Squadron Officer School in residence and flew as an AC-130 aircraft commander at Hurlburt Field, Fla., followed by an assignment as chief tactical assault planner with the Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, Fort Bragg, N.C. 

After graduating from Air Command and Staff College in residence in 2003, he returned to flying as chief AC-130 evaluator pilot, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla., until being assigned to Vance in 2005 as 71st Flying Training Wing chief of safety.
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Colonel Woods is a command pilot with 50 combat hours included in his total of 3,500 flying hours in T-37B, T-38A, C-130E/H, AC-130H, T-6A aircraft. His major decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters and Joint Service Achievement Medal.

Commander Rader now goes to Manama, Bahrain with the United States Navy Central Command.

"For me, having command was all about taking care of the people assigned to my command. I was confident that if I took good care of my people and did what was right for them, then they would work hard to get the mission done for me and we would accomplish our mission," Commander Rader said. "I would like to thank the 8 Ballers and Team Vance members who helped make that mission accomplishment successful under my command."