JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Lt. Col. Allen “JAKS” Duckworth assumed command of the 97th Flying Training Squadron from Lt. Col. William Kennedy during a change of command ceremony held at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, April 28, 2017.
Duckworth is responsible for the participation and operations of 26 Active Guard and reserve and Associate Reserve Technician s well as 50 Traditional Reserve Instructor Pilots in the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training or ENJJPT program as part of the Air Force Reserve Command’s Air Education and training Command Reserve Associate IP Program.
He entered the Air Force in 1996 after graduating from the Air Force Academy. He entered the Air Force Reserve in 2005 after nine years active duty as an A-10 combat pilot. In the 340th Flying Training Group, he has served as a T-6 IP, Pilot Instructor Training instructor, flight commander, assistant operations officer and operations officer.
He is a command pilot with more than 3,100 flying hours in the A-10 and T-6. He amassed 450 combat hours in the A-10, supporting Operations Allied Force in 1999, Southern Watch in 2000, Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and Enduring Freedom in 2005.
Col. Roger Suro, 340 FTG commander presided over the ceremony and transferred the 97 FTS guidon from Kennedy to Duckworth.