505th Combat Training Squadron welcomes new leader Published May 27, 2009 By Jodi L. Jordan 505 CCW/PA HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The squadron responsible for high-fidelity synthetic operating environment simulations and world-class exercise control recently welcomed a new leader in a ceremony here May 13. Lt. Col. James Sheedy assumed command of the 505th Combat Training Squadron from Lt. Col. Gregory DeFore in a ceremony officiated by Col. John Horner, commander of the 505th Distributed Warfare Group. The 505th CTS is the Distributed Mission Operations home to the Air Force's Professional Control Force. The Professional Control Force is a team of Air Force, Army, Department of Defense civilians and contractor specialists who provide Air and Space Operations Center, Coalition/Joint Forces Air Component Commander, and Higher Headquarters expertise to joint and Flag exercises. The squadron also directs the Blue Flag exercise program, which is the Air Force's foremost large-scale, operational, airpower exercise. These exercises provide operational-level of warfare training to Combined-Numbered Air Force AOCs around the globe. "Colonel DeFore, by all measures, leaves a squadron better than when he got it, which is my measure of success," said Colonel Horner in his opening remarks. "The 505th CTS is extremely important, not just to our Air Force, but to our country. If people don't get the training that the 505th CTS offers, there can be serious effects to entire operations." Colonel Sheedy assumes the role of commander following a position as the director of operations at the 505th CTS. He is a senior navigator with more than 2,500 hours in the B-52H. He assumed command of the squadron with many thanks to both the people in attendance at the ceremony and the members of the organization. "The mission we have here, our credibility and capability is amazing," Colonel Sheedy said. "These folks are second to none at bringing operational-level training out to the war fighter." The 505th CTS is a subordinate unit of the 505th Command and Control Wing, headquartered here. The 505th CCW is the Air Force's only Wing dedicated to operational-level command and control.
505th Combat Training Squadron welcomes new leader Published May 27, 2009 By Jodi L. Jordan 505 CCW/PA HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The squadron responsible for high-fidelity synthetic operating environment simulations and world-class exercise control recently welcomed a new leader in a ceremony here May 13. Lt. Col. James Sheedy assumed command of the 505th Combat Training Squadron from Lt. Col. Gregory DeFore in a ceremony officiated by Col. John Horner, commander of the 505th Distributed Warfare Group. The 505th CTS is the Distributed Mission Operations home to the Air Force's Professional Control Force. The Professional Control Force is a team of Air Force, Army, Department of Defense civilians and contractor specialists who provide Air and Space Operations Center, Coalition/Joint Forces Air Component Commander, and Higher Headquarters expertise to joint and Flag exercises. The squadron also directs the Blue Flag exercise program, which is the Air Force's foremost large-scale, operational, airpower exercise. These exercises provide operational-level of warfare training to Combined-Numbered Air Force AOCs around the globe. "Colonel DeFore, by all measures, leaves a squadron better than when he got it, which is my measure of success," said Colonel Horner in his opening remarks. "The 505th CTS is extremely important, not just to our Air Force, but to our country. If people don't get the training that the 505th CTS offers, there can be serious effects to entire operations." Colonel Sheedy assumes the role of commander following a position as the director of operations at the 505th CTS. He is a senior navigator with more than 2,500 hours in the B-52H. He assumed command of the squadron with many thanks to both the people in attendance at the ceremony and the members of the organization. "The mission we have here, our credibility and capability is amazing," Colonel Sheedy said. "These folks are second to none at bringing operational-level training out to the war fighter." The 505th CTS is a subordinate unit of the 505th Command and Control Wing, headquartered here. The 505th CCW is the Air Force's only Wing dedicated to operational-level command and control.