JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – The 960th Cyberspace Wing underwent a leadership change August 9, 2020, where the wing Commander, Col. Lori Jones, relinquished command to Col. Richard Erredge, former 960th CW vice-commander, during a change of command ceremony at the Bob Hope Theater here.
Presiding over the ceremony was the 10th Air Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Brian Borgen, who traveled from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, to participate.
“For what it takes to lead an organization in terms of intelligence and expertise in this field we are watching one of the greats walk out and one of the greats walk in,” Borgen said. “I’m so proud to be here today, it’s a great honor.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance was kept to a minimum and the ceremony was streamed live through the wing’s Facebook page.
Jones said it’s been a privilege and an honor to be the first commander of the 960th Cyberspace Wing.
“It’s the people around you that make you successful in all things,” Jones said. “So that has definitely been the case in my tour here. It’s not me that made me a successful wing commander; it’s all of you in the 960th Cyberspace Wing.”
Erredge said, as the second 960th CW commander, he’s looking forward to continuing to build upon a strong foundation of defensive cyber expertise and expeditionary professionals to create operational effects in support of the national defense strategy.
“We will continue to mature our organization and write our history everyday as we grow into an agile and adaptive combat fighting force,” Erredge said. “We must be ready today to compete in a war of cognition. Gladiators, I'll work tirelessly to take of you and your families; I will lead from the front, stand by your side and follow your lead when needed.”
Prior to the wing change of command ceremony, the 960th Cyberspace Operations Group held an assumption of command ceremony to welcome Col. Mark Estlund, former U.S. Strategic Command battle watch commander, as the new commander of the group.
Estlund said he was excited to join the 960th COG team and foresees some historic opportunities ahead in the formation of AFRC’s cyberspace legacy.
“Our nation is at war in cyber every day and our adversaries are not letting up,” Estlund said. “There is an insatiable demand for cyber capabilities and resources and we must keep delivering. We have to come to the fight ready to demonstrate the awesome capabilities the U.S. Air Force Reserve and the 960th COG brings to the fight.”