New commander greets Illinois Air Force Reserve wing

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Gerald Sonnenberg
  • 932nd Airlift Wing
Scott AFB, Ill. --  Members of the 932nd Airlift Wing at Scott AFB, as well as distinguished guests bid farewell  to Col. Maryanne Miller who departs the 932nd as its commander for two years to become commander of the 349th Airlift Wing at Travis AFB Calif. 

Colonel John C. Flournoy, Jr., comes in to lead the 932nd from 22nd Air Force at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., where he served as director of 22nd Air Force Operations. Twenty-Second Air Force is the largest of three numbered air forces in the Air Force Reserve, and manages more than 25,000 reservists. 

The mission of the 1,000 member 932nd AW is to provide first-class, worldwide, safe, and reliable airlift for distinguished visitors and their staffs on the wing's C-9C and C-40 aircraft for VIP special assignment missions. The wing reports to 4th Air Force at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. Officiating at the ceremony was Maj. Gen. Robert E. Duignan, commander of Air Force Reserve Command's 4th Air Force. 

"Maryanne (Colonel Miller) has done a wonderful job with this mission bringing us out of the past and into the future with this airplane," said General Duignan. "This mission is vitally important to this nation. This is a new mission for the reserves, and she jumped in with both feet." 

About Colonel Flournoy, General Duignan said, "He's had a great career. He comes to you at the 932nd as a very experienced aviator and somebody that understands the mission. I know he'll do a great job." 

Colonel Flournoy's arrival at Scott AFB is a homecoming of sorts. His father was assigned to the southern Illinois base three times. 

"When asked where I'm from, I tell people I was born in Alabama, but I consider Scott AFB my home town," said Colonel Flournoy. 

Throughout those assignments, he attended Scott AFB elementary schools and Mascoutah High School in Mascoutah, Ill., for much of his early life. He graduated from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Ill., where he also graduated from the Reserve Officer Training Corps. He entered the Air Force in 1986. 

While on active duty, he served as a B-52 pilot and as a T-37 instructor pilot. He joined the Air Force Reserve in 1991 as an HH-60G Blackhawk helicopter pilot and became an Air Reserve Technician in 1994. Colonel Flournoy returned to active duty in July of 1999 where he served in the Reserve Operations and Requirements Division, as well as the Reserve Studies and Programs Division of the Air Staff. 

Following his tour at the Pentagon he attended National War College at the National Defense University in Washington D.C. Colonel Flournoy was deployed as Operations Group Commander of the 386th EOG Ali Al Salem, Kuwait. 

"To the men and women of the 932nd, I applaud you for your reputation of excellence that you have built over many years of dedicated service to the Air Force Reserve and our great nation," said Colonel Flournoy. "...Our vision is focused--to provide the world's best mutual support to the Air Force and our partners, flying as unrivaled wingmen. You continue to do just that on a daily basis."