By Sean Worrell
12th Flying Training Wing public affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas — A Del Rio High School graduate has taken command of one of the Air Force’s premier pilot training wings.
Col. James Long II, a 1999 graduate of Del Rio High School, became commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing during a change of command ceremony June 26 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
Long’s family has deep Air Force roots here. His father is considered by many to be a U-2 scholar and spearheaded the Laughlin Heritage Foundation Museum.
It’s a trail that led him to leading the flying training wing at Randolph in Joint Base San Antonio. Col. Peter Lee relinquished command of the wing to Long during a ceremony officiated by Maj. Gen. Roy Collins, deputy commander of Air Education and Training Command.
The 12th Flying Training Wing trains Airmen in the fundamentals of airmanship, instruction and leadership while preparing future military aviators for operational service. The wing operates multiple training aircraft and supports undergraduate pilot training and specialized aviation programs across the Air Force.
Prior to assuming command, Long served as deputy commander of the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. There, he helped oversee a wing responsible for providing worldwide air refueling capabilities while supporting Headquarters U.S. Central Command, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command and 32 mission partners.
Accepting command, Long emphasized the importance of the wing’s mission to develop the next generation of combat aviators.
“We have a critical mission in the 12th Flying Training Wing, and that is to produce the next generation of the world’s best aircrews,” Long said. “Those men and women stand ready to fly and fix aircraft to train our next generation of combat aviators.”
Long also praised the professionalism of the wing’s Airmen and underscored the connection between training and combat readiness.
“I am proud of your accomplishments and your outstanding professionalism,” Long said. “Victory in combat starts with training. Our only way to make lethal warfighters is to train them.”
Collins affirmed Long’s readiness to lead the wing into increasingly complex operating environments, noting that tomorrow’s missions will require adaptable and resilient Airmen.
He closed by offering a final charge.
“As you take the guidon today, know that you are taking command of one of the finest wings in the United States Air Force,” Collins said. “From here on, you have the lead.”
As commander, Long will lead more than 1,400 military and civilian personnel responsible for executing the wing’s mission to train warfighters for America and develop the Air Force’s future aviation leaders.
