Change of Command

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Col. Clark J. Quinn, right, accepts the 71st Flying Training Wing guidon and command of the unit from Gen. Robin Rand, commander of the Air Education & Training Command, during a change of command ceremony June 18. Chief Master Sgt. Peter A. Speen, center, is the new 71st FTW command chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Terry Wasson)

Change of Command

: VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Col. Clark J. Quinn, the 71st Flying Training Wing commander, addresses the members of Team Vance during his first speech as commander June 18 at Hanger 199 during a change-of-command ceremony. Quinn assumed command from Col. Darren V. James, who is leaving Vance for Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Gen. Robin Rand, the Air Education and Training Command commander, presided over the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Terry Wasson)

Change of command

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Col. Clark J. Quinn, the 71st Flying Training Wing commander, looks at the members of Team Vance after taking the reins of the 71st FTW June 18 at Hanger 199 during a change-of-command ceremony. Quinn assumed command from Col. Darren V. James, who is leaving Vance for Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Quinn was most recently the vice commander of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Terry Wasson)

71st FTW gets new commander

Published June 18, 2014
71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Col. Clark J. Quinn assumed command of the 71st Flying Training Wing from Col. Darren V. James in a change-of-command ceremony June 18 at Hanger 199.

Gen. Robin Rand, the Air Education and Training Command commander, presided over the ceremony. He took control of the unit flag from James and presented it to Quinn.

"I am truly humbled and honored to stand in front of you today," said Quinn. "As we execute the daily mission I ask you to never lose sight of the bigger picture of these young men and women we are training here. Within a year some of them will be flying combat sorties, and within 10 or 15 they will be dominating skies and protecting the rest of us as we are enjoying our retirements."

Quinn is a command pilot with more than 2,500 hours in the F-15E, F-16 and T-38.

His is the recipient of the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster. He holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, a Master of Business Administration from Touro University International and was commissioned in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida.

Prior to joining Team Vance, Quinn was the vice commander of the 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.

James is headed to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, to be the U.S. Transportation Command deputy director of operations and plans.

The strength of our Air Force and our nation lies within its people, said James. At Vance, that strength is Airmen, government civilians and contract partners.

"I want to thank you for your tireless dedication, and your excellence never ceases to amaze me," he said.

Vance Air Force Base is one of three Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training bases in the Air Force. Vance trains Air Force and allied student pilots for worldwide deployment and Aerospace Expeditionary Force support. In 2013, the wing graduated 314 pilots with no Class "A" mishaps. Since 1941, the total number of pilot wings awarded to military aviators at Vance is 32,617.