189th Operations Group changes command Published Aug. 9, 2007 By Master Sgt. Bob Oldham 189th Airlift Wing Public Affairs LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The Arkansas Air National Guard's 189th Operations Group on Aug. 5 changed commanders with the new commander vowing the unit's focus will remain on student training. Lt. Col. Steve Eggensperger, formerly the 154th Training Squadron commander, slipped into the group's pilot seat that was vacated by Col. Jim Summers who is now the 189th Airlift Wing's vice commander. Col. Jim Crumpton, the wing's previous vice commander, moved to the Arkansas Air National Guard headquarters staff. "The OG will continue to focus on providing world-class training in all crew positions including not only the instructor school and Enlisted Aircrew Academic School, but also training additional initial- and mission-qualification students to increase the output of the C-130 [formal training unit]," said Colonel Eggensperger in an interview. "We will continue to be involved in syllabus development as well as the testing and evaluation of the C-130 [avionics modernization program] avionics upgrade which will eventually replace the legacy C-130s. As always, we stand ready to support state missions and [National Guard Bureau]-directed airlift missions." In the short term, the group's focus will be on preparing for an operational readiness inspection in April 2008. "But I expect the focus on safely performing our day-to-day AETC training mission to remain our top priority," he said. The group flies 1961-1963 era C-130E model aircraft. With 45 years of use on them, they are certainly old, "but they are well maintained," he said. Through operational risk management, aircrew members are able to mitigate the risk they are exposed to on a daily basis. "In a training mission, safety is always paramount," he said. On the horizon, the group is scheduled to receive nine newer C-130H2 cargo aircraft that will replace the 10 C-130Es currently on the ramp. The aircraft shift was dictated by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. "I don't expect any major changes in the way the ops group does business," he said. "We've been performing the FTU mission since 1986, and we do it very efficiently." Lt. Col. Greg Myers replaced Colonel Eggensperger as the 154 TRS commander.
189th Operations Group changes command Published Aug. 9, 2007 By Master Sgt. Bob Oldham 189th Airlift Wing Public Affairs LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The Arkansas Air National Guard's 189th Operations Group on Aug. 5 changed commanders with the new commander vowing the unit's focus will remain on student training. Lt. Col. Steve Eggensperger, formerly the 154th Training Squadron commander, slipped into the group's pilot seat that was vacated by Col. Jim Summers who is now the 189th Airlift Wing's vice commander. Col. Jim Crumpton, the wing's previous vice commander, moved to the Arkansas Air National Guard headquarters staff. "The OG will continue to focus on providing world-class training in all crew positions including not only the instructor school and Enlisted Aircrew Academic School, but also training additional initial- and mission-qualification students to increase the output of the C-130 [formal training unit]," said Colonel Eggensperger in an interview. "We will continue to be involved in syllabus development as well as the testing and evaluation of the C-130 [avionics modernization program] avionics upgrade which will eventually replace the legacy C-130s. As always, we stand ready to support state missions and [National Guard Bureau]-directed airlift missions." In the short term, the group's focus will be on preparing for an operational readiness inspection in April 2008. "But I expect the focus on safely performing our day-to-day AETC training mission to remain our top priority," he said. The group flies 1961-1963 era C-130E model aircraft. With 45 years of use on them, they are certainly old, "but they are well maintained," he said. Through operational risk management, aircrew members are able to mitigate the risk they are exposed to on a daily basis. "In a training mission, safety is always paramount," he said. On the horizon, the group is scheduled to receive nine newer C-130H2 cargo aircraft that will replace the 10 C-130Es currently on the ramp. The aircraft shift was dictated by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. "I don't expect any major changes in the way the ops group does business," he said. "We've been performing the FTU mission since 1986, and we do it very efficiently." Lt. Col. Greg Myers replaced Colonel Eggensperger as the 154 TRS commander.