Page 1 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, June 21, 2019
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vol. 3, no. 13 Serving Southern Nevada’s military community, including Nellis, Creech and NTTR June 21, 2019
An Aerotech news And review publicAtion • www.Aerotechnews.com
RPA Airmen welcome
New 432nd WG/432nd AEW commander
Predator and now the MQ-9 Reaper.â€
by Airman 1st Class Haley Stevens Croft went on to mark the milestones
Creech AFB, Nev. the Airmen of the 432nd WG/432nd
AEW accomplished on behalf of the
The members of the 432nd RPA community, praising Cheater’s
Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s part in the past, and expressing faith
Remotely Piloted Aircraft enterprise in Jones’s future.
welcomed their new commander dur-
ing a change of command ceremony,  “Like the Doolittle Raiders, the
June 7, 2019. Hunters paved the way for innovation,
delivering reliable combat support in a
Col. Stephen Jones assumed com- way no one had ever thought of before,
mand from Col. Julian Cheater as Maj. and, ultimately, forever changing the
Gen. Andrew Croft, 12th Air Force face of military aviation,†Croft said.
(Air Forces Southern) commander, “[Colonel Cheater], you have led the
presided over the event. way for the last two years and [Col.
Jones], I know you’re ready to com-
“To the men and women of the mand.â€
432nd Wing, thank you for sustain-
ing the most persistent attack and Croft then presented Cheater with
reconnaissance platform in the world,†the Legion of Merit, earned in part
Croft said. “No weapon system in the through his pursuit of the first-ever re-
Air Force’s history has had a greater ___ See COMMANDER, on Page 3
impact on the global fight against
violent extremism than the MQ-1
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Haley Stevens
Maj. Gen. Andrew Croft, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern)
commander, presents the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary
Wing guidon to Col. Stephen Jones, incoming 432nd
WG/432nd AEW commander, during the wing change of
command ceremony at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., June
7, 2019. Jones has previously been assigned to multiple
squadrons at Creech, flown the B-1 Bomber, MQ-1 Predator
and MQ-9 Reaper, and was an initial member of the team that
armed the RQ-1 Predator.
Air Force photograph by Staff Sgt. James Thompson LEFT: Col. Julian Cheater, outgoing 432nd Wing/432nd Air
Expeditionary Wing commander, receives his final salute from
Creech Airmen during the 432nd WG/432nd AEW change of
command ceremony at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., June 7,
2019. Cheater’s advocacy resulted in the first-ever achievement
decoration awarded to Remotely Piloted Aircraft aircrew for
having direct and immediate impact on the battlefield, and
he spearheaded efforts for a better quality of life for Creech
Airmen, earning the Legion of Merit.
INSIDE: Commentary - 2; News - 3-5; Veterans’ News - 8 & 12; Hometown Heroes - 13; Nellis Living - 15
