71st Operations Support Squadron command changes hands

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  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Command of the 71st Operations Support Squadron changes hands in a ceremony at noon today in Hangar 170.
Lt. Col. Ronald Baldinger will accept command of the squadron from Lt. Col. Lawrence Reed.
Colonel Baldinger was director of operations for the 71st OSS and said the squadron is "the 'behind the scenes' of undergraduate pilot training."
"I am truly in awe of what the Ghostriders accomplish so seamlessly day in and day out," he said.
Colonel Reed thanks the squadron for their work during his leadership.
"It has been a privilege to serve as the commander of the 71st OSS for the past two years," he said. "The squadron's officers, enlisted and civilians have positioned the squadron to be the best in (Air Education and Training Command). The ORI validated all of their hard work. Colonel Ron and Mina Baldinger have been an integral part of this success and will be an outstanding command team. Lisa and I will miss our close ties to the squadron and wish all of the Ghostriders the best in 2006." Colonel Reed transfers to the 71st Operations Group.
Colonel Baldinger graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1990 and earned his pilot wings with Class 91-14 at Vance Air Force Base.
Colonel Baldinger's first assignment was flying B-52Gs with the 69th Bomb Squadron, Loring AFB, Maine. In 1993 he was reassigned to AETC and Reese AFB, Texas, where he served in the 35th Flying Training Squadron as a T-37 instructor pilot and then the 54th FTS as a T-38 IP.
Following his AETC tour, Colonel Baldinger worked various assignments including flying the MH-53 Pave Low with Air Force Special Operations, and two others with the 21st Special Operations Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, UK, and the 20th SOS, Hurlburt Field, Fla., before returning to Vance in 2005.
Colonel Baldinger is a senior pilot with over 3,000 hours in the B-52G, T-37B, T-38A, UH-1H, MH-53J/M and T-6A. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with valor device, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with V device and one OLC, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army Commendation Medals and the Air Force Achievement Medal.