71st OSS under new leadership

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt Jason Bishop
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Command of the 71st Operations Support Squadron changed hands Thursday during a ceremony in the Vance Club.
Lt Col Scott Reed assumed command of the 71st OSS from Lt Col Robert Lala.
Colonel Reed comes to the 71st OSS from National Defense University in Washington, DC, where he was attending National War College.
Colonel Lala has been reassigned to Langley Air Force Base, Va, where he will serve as deputy chief of the operations division Air Expeditionary Forces.
"I'm excited about working with an outstanding team of airmen, NCOs, officers and civilians all focused on supporting the wing's mission of producing the world's best military pilots," Colonel Reed said. "The squadron is an exceptional leadership opportunity for commanders on down to junior NCOs in a complex, multifaceted mission. In my short time here, I've been impressed by the wide range of T-1, T-37, T-38, RAPCON, tower and weather expertise found in 'The Ghostriders' and I feel privileged to serve as their commander."
Colonel Reed graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1984 and earned his pilot wings with Class 86-06 at Williams AFB, Ariz. Following fighter lead in and initial F-15 training, Colonel Reed was assigned to the 54th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, where he served as an F-15C instructor pilot, chief of squadron scheduling, and flight commander.
In 1997, Colonel Reed was assigned to the Air Staff as chief of Air-to-Air Weapons Requirements, Directorate of Operational Requirements.
Colonel Reed returned to the Eagle in 1999 as an F-15C instructor pilot and flight evaluator at Kadena AB, Japan. His duties included 67th FS assistant operations officer and 18th OG chief of standardization and evaluation. In 2002, he attended the National Defense University in Washington, DC as a student of the National War College and was awarded a Master of Science in National Security Strategy.
Colonel Reed is a command pilot with more than 3,500 hours in the F-15, T-37, and T-38. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with three devices, Air Medal, Combat Readiness Medal with three devices, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal.