Team Vance welcomes new commander Published Nov. 22, 2006 By Capt. Tony Wickman Public Affairs Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- The 71st Flying Training Wing welcomed its new leader during a ceremony Sept. 15. Col. Richard Klumpp Jr. took command from Col. Bryan Benson, who has led Vance Air Force Base since February 2005. In his address to the wing, the new commander lauded the outgoing commander and men and women of Team Vance for the high-quality work they accomplished during Colonel Benson's tenure and offered a vision of things to come. "We will give 100-percent effort every day, live the Core Values and make smart, mature and responsible choices in both our personal and professional lives," said Colonel Klumpp. "We will foster a community that treats everyone who works at and comes into contact with Vance AFB with fairness, dignity and respect. If we commit to it (the vision) together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. "It is time to take it to the next level. Together we will lead the way ... not just in 19th Air Force, not just in Air Education and Training Command, but in our Air Force. Let's make it happen together." Colonel Klumpp also briefly addressed the difference he has seen at Vance since he was a first assignment instructor pilot from September 1988 to April 1992. "In the past 14 years, Vance has transformed from an active-duty Air Force base to a joint total force team, representative of today's military, postured to train the future of our Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as the pilots of many of our important allies," Colonel Klumpp said. The new commander also expressed his excitement at continuing to nurture the strong, positive relationship the base experiences with the city of Enid. The ceremony was presided over by Maj. Gen. Marc Rogers, 19th Air Force commander. During the ceremony, General Rogers praised Colonel Benson and family for their leadership and welcomed Colonel Klumpp and his family to Vance. "He's got some big shoes to fill, but from what I can see in his record and from what I know about Rich Klumpp so far, we are getting a star player here," said General Rogers. As the commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing, Colonel Klumpp is responsible for the Air Force's only Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training base that has more than 2,500 military, civilian and contract people training more than 400 pilots a year. Prior to his assignment at Vance, Colonel Klumpp served as the vice wing commander for the 375th Airlift Wing at Scott AFB, Ill. Colonel Benson was selected to become the executive officer to the commander of Air Mobility Command at Scott AFB.