23rd Training Squadron welcomes new commander

Published July 8, 2015
By By Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert
42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala -- Officer Training School's 23rd Training Squadron welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony June 26 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

Lt. Col. Brad Foster assumed command from Lt. Col. Shannon Juby, who after two years of overseeing the training and teaching of more than 1,300 cadets a year, will become a student at Air War College.

During the ceremony, Col. Scott Lockwood, Officer Training School commandant, presented the Meritorious Service Medal to Juby for her service as the 23rd TRS commander and reflected on the work she did while in command stating, "You have done an outstanding job; you have knocked it out of the park."

Juby responded by thanking senior leaders and staff for the opportunity to lead and for their support.

"Thank you for letting me be a commander," she said. "Thank you for giving me the freedom to make mistakes where I made them, and learn from them and to lead these folks to the best of my ability. Friends from the 24th Training Squadron and Detachment 12-- you have done amazing things to bring the training squadron to where it is today - total force. The way I saw this group come together from when I first stepped foot on this campus in 2012 has been absolutely outstanding."

Lockwood spoke about the great commanders the 23rd TRS has had in the past including the recent command of Juby, but he also looked into the future to Col. Foster and how he's confident that the right choice has been made.

"We are so proud and we know that as we change this guard that this thing is going to continue on," said Lockwood. "We look forward to working with you (Foster) and we know you are a winning team. That is what your track record says."

After accepting the guidon from Lockwood, Foster shared his personal experience with OTS and why he is excited to take command.

"We imprint a memory on the students who come through here, one that they'll take with them and remember forever," said Foster. "When I came through (OTS) ... some things I know I will never forget ... but more importantly is the change that I felt in myself as I transitioned though the program. I saw that in the students who graduated today. I know that is the reason why you do what you do, and you do a phenomenal job. I am proud to be on that team with you, to serve with you and to continue that tradition.."