60th Air Mobility Wing welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Carter
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Col. Joel Jackson assumed command of the 60th Air Mobility Wing from Col. Corey Martin during the wing's change of command ceremony here Feb. 20.

Previously the commander of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, Jackson now commands the largest wing in Air Mobility Command. However, this is not the first assignment to Travis for the Jackson family.

"Most of you don't know me yet, but 20 years ago today, (my wife) Lanette and I drove down Highway 12 as we entered the Fairfield-Suisun-Vacaville-Travis area for our first assignment at Travis," Jackson said. "This is now our fourth assignment here, which is crazy, but even crazier than that is, after all these years and assignments, Lanette is still by my side."

Jackson, who began his Air Force career in 1992 after graduating from the Air Force Academy, is a command pilot having flown more than 4,500 hours in support of combat operations such as Operation Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He has spent 10 of his 22 years of service at Travis.

Other assignments include Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Southwest Asia and Washington, D.C., in a variety of positions within the Air Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense and United States Transportation Command.

Col. Corey Martin, outgoing 60th AMW commander, had high praise for Jackson.

"I was very excited when I heard Colonel Jackson would be replacing me," Martin said. "He is a man of integrity and a man who is still in uniform not to be served, but because he wants to serve others."

Lt. Gen. Carlton Everhart II, 18th Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony. After praising Martin's accomplishments at Travis, including winning the 2014 Commander-in-Chief Installation Excellence Award and the 2014 Outstanding Unit Award, Everhart said Jackson will continue to lead the base to greatness.

"As we say goodbye to one great leader, we have the honor of welcoming another," Everhart said. "Colonel Jackson is not just assuming command, he is coming home."

Everhart expressed full confidence in Jackson's ability in leading Team Travis to continued excellence.

"To the Airmen of Team Travis, thank you for what you have done and what you continue to do each and every day to support Air Mobility Command, our Air Force, our great nation and for everything you will do under the leadership of Colonel Jackson," Everhart said.

In Martin's outgoing address, he thanked his family, fellow leaders, the community and Travis Airmen.

"I'm thankful for all the men and women, all of the Golden Bears who have selflessly and relentlessly brought Airpower through Bear Power," Martin said. "You are all doing world changing events on a daily basis and I am proud of you."

Martin leaves Travis to become the special assistant to Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commander of United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea, which oversees the multinational forces that support the Republic of Korea.
Jackson showed his enthusiasm to lead Travis into the future of Air Mobility Command.

"We truly look forward to working with each of you as, collectively, we ensure that Travis continues providing outstanding support to the warfighter," Jackson said.